Wakelin Wins Scottish Open 9-2 Over Chang

Chris Wakelin claimed the Scottish Open title on Sunday, defeating China's Chang Bingyu 9-2 in the final at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh to secure the second ranking victory of his career and a top prize of 100,000 pounds.

The 33-year-old Englishman, who entered the tournament ranked 14th in the world, started slowly, trailing 2-1 after Chang compiled a break of 107 in the third frame. Wakelin quickly turned the match around, winning the next eight frames in dominant fashion. He produced seven breaks of 50 or more, including runs of 96, 73, 70, 66, 66, 50, 67 and a closing 104, to lift the Stephen Hendry Trophy named after the seven-time world champion.

Wakelin's path to the final included victories over Oliver Lines, Anthony McGill, Yuan Sijun, Zhou Yuelong and Matt Selt in the semifinals. The win marks a significant milestone for Wakelin, whose previous ranking title came in the one-frame Shoot Out format nearly three years ago. Since then, he has reached the World Championship quarterfinals and the semifinals of the Saudi Arabia Masters this season, establishing himself as a consistent top-16 contender despite final losses at the 2023 Northern Ireland Open and...