2024 Scottish Open Snooker Final Preview: Wu Yize v Lei Peifan

Wu and Lei - who are both just 21-years-old - will clash in the best-of-17 frames showpiece to decide the destination of the £100,000 top prize and The Stephen Hendry Trophy. Not since the 1998 Welsh Open has there been a lower combined age between the two finalists of a ranking event.

The world number 27 when he started the week, Wu has made it through to his second ranking event final, just a couple months after making his first at the English Open in Brentwood which was the opening Home Nations Series event of the 2024/25 season. This is the third and penultimate stop.

A semi-finalist at last week's Snooker Shoot Out, Wu defeated Farakh Ajaib and Ishpreet Singh Chadha in the early rounds here before ousting Barry Hawkins 4-3, Chris Wakelin 5-4, and then recovering from 4-2 down to deny fellow countryman Xiao Guodong 6-4 in the semi-finals.

Victory for Wu on Sunday would push him up to a career-high world ranking of 21st, and put him firmly in the discussion for a top 16 spot heading into the season-ending World Championship at the Crucible. It would also put Wu top of this season's Home Nations Series order of merit with just the Welsh Open to come. The winner of this particular race pockets a £150,000 bonus.

World number 84 Lei has emerged from the very first round of this tournament; winning seven matches in total - two of those coming during the 'qualifying rounds' held several weeks ago in England. Prior to this week, Lei had never been past the last 16 of a ranking event. He has broken new personal ground three times in recent days, and will aim for a fourth by lifting the trophy.

Having been relegated from the professional circuit in 2023, this is Lei's first season back in the big time after a year away. The length of this run will be a surprise to many, although there were signs earlier in the term when Lei reached the last 32 of the big-money Saudi Arabia Masters and his first last 16 appearance in a ranking event at the Northern Ireland Open - this season's second Home Nations Series leg - just several weeks ago.

Lei has shown great temperament and steadiness throughout this tournament, with five of his seven match wins arriving via a deciding frame, including his last four here at the main venue.

He pipped former world champions Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham by 4-3 scorelines in the last 32 and 16 respectively before nudging out last week's Shoot Out champion Tom Ford 5-4 in the quarter-finals.

In the last four, Lei pieced together a brilliant comeback as he recovered from 5-2 down to stun former world number one and winner of this title Mark Allen with a 6-5 post-midnight triumph.

The title would thrust Lei up to a career-high 43rd in the world rankings and would put him in a strong position to qualify for at least the first two Players Series events of the term in a few months time.

This will be the first time that Wu and Lei have played each other on the World Snooker Tour. The winner will become the 78th different winner of a ranking event title. As well as the rankings boosts and possible qualification for Players Series events, Sunday’s winner will almost certainly receive an invite to the Champion of Champions late next year.

How can I watch the 2024 Scottish Open Snooker Final?

• Europe (including UK and Ireland): Eurosport, discovery+, DMAX
• China: Huya.com, CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel, CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin
• Hong Kong China: Now TV
• Malaysia and Brunei: Astro
• Philippines: Tap
• Taiwan: Sportcast
• Thailand: True Sport
• All other territories: matchroom.live

For full information on the 2024 Scottish Open, including the draw, results, format, prize money and how to watch on TV, please visit our tournament information centre here.