The 2024 Scottish Open has four runners left in contention for glory at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh.
Two more victories are required in order to land the £100,000 top prize and the Stephen Hendry Trophy in what is the third event out of four on the Home Nations series.
The Scottish Open represents the last opportunity of 2024 to win a ranking piece of silverware.
Only one from the remaining quartet has already emerged with a title from the ongoing campaign, with the others bidding for a first trophy of the term.
Let’s take a look at both semi-final matches in the 2024 Scottish Open.
Lei Peifan vs Mark Allen
Mark Allen is the sole surviving top 16 member in the draw after the Northern Irishman produced a strong display to beat Noppon Saengkham on Friday.
The Pistol fired in a hat-trick of century breaks for the second time this week as he sustained his improved level of scoring against the Thai.
Allen, who remains on course to replicate his Scottish Open success from 2018, will face qualifier Lei Peifan in the last four.
The latter reached the penultimate round of a ranking tournament for the first time in his career by ending Tom Ford’s ten-match unbeaten streak.
Shoot Out king Ford was in familiar territory when he forced a final-frame decider, but the young Chinese competitor edged a thriller on the concluding colours.
It was the third time this season that Lei had got one over Ford, and it takes the 21 year-old through to the single table setup against world number five Allen.
With his higher ranking, greater experience, and particularly with the form he has shown in this event, Allen is obviously the favourite to progress to Sunday’s final.
However, Lei has already beaten the likes of Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, and Hossein Vafaei in his memorable run so shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Allen and Lei have never crossed paths on the main tour before.
Wu Yize vs Xiao Guodong
An all-Chinese semi-final is becoming more and more familiar on the World Snooker Tour.
Indeed, this is the third time this season that three out of the four semi-finalists in a ranking event have hailed from China.
The two previous occasions – at the Wuhan Open and again at the International Championship – both featured Xiao Guodong.
Here the 35 year-old is again as he mounts yet another challenge for honours in what is turning out to be a remarkable period of form.
Xiao, who ended up triumphing in Wuhan for his maiden ranking success, thumped Luca Brecel 5-1 in the last eight.
Compatriot Wu Yize will be on the other side of the table in Saturday afternoon’s opening semi-final clash.
The 21 year-old, a finalist at the English Open where he was narrowly beaten by Neil Robertson, fought back from behind to deny Chris Wakelin in a deciding frame on Friday.
Wu, who is making back-to-back semi-final appearances in a ranking event, and Xiao have also never played each other before in a competitive match.
Both semi-finals in the 2024 Scottish Open will be live for European viewers on discovery+ and Eurosport.
2024 Scottish Open
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Saturday, December 14th
1pm UTC
Wu Yize vs Xiao Guodong
7pm UTC
Lei Peifan vs Mark Allen
Click here for the latest results
(snooker.org)
Featured photo credit: WST
