John Higgins encountered a challenging moment during his match against Noppon Saengkham at the Scottish Open due to a referee error in repositioning a ball. The match took a chaotic turn after Higgins inadvertently kissed the pink ball while aiming for a distant red, prompting the referee, Colin Humphries, to readjust the ball and the reds to their original spots. However, confusion arose when Humphries mistakenly touched the wrong ball, causing further disruption to the layout.
A discussion ensued between the referee and the marker regarding the correct positions, leading to a delay in gameplay as Higgins awaited his turn. Eventually, after struggling to rectify the situation, both players agreed to start afresh with a re-rack after the frame had been ongoing for 20 minutes.
Despite Higgins’ efforts, Saengkham emerged victorious with a 4-0 win, showcasing a notable 100 break. This incident marked another peculiar occurrence involving Higgins in recent matches, adding to the unexpected moments in his gameplay at the tournament.
In a separate match against Antoni Kowalski, Higgins found himself in another humorous situation when his cue accidentally fell on the nearby red balls while using the spider. Despite the mishap, Higgins maintained his composure and even shared a smile, eliciting laughter from the commentators.
As the event unfolded, the commentators amusingly remarked on the series of events, highlighting the unexpected nature of Higgins’ performance. The match concluded with Saengkham’s victory, underscoring the unpredictable and entertaining elements present in snooker competitions.