Another unexpected name will lift the Scottish Open trophy on Sunday as Chris Wakelin meets Chang Bingyu in a final few saw coming in Edinburgh.
Three years ago, Gary Wilson earned a maiden ranking victory with his success at the 2022 edition and followed it up with a surprise defence twelve months later.
A year ago, Lei Peifan then stunned the field at the Meadowbank Sports Centre to lift the Stephen Hendry Trophy as a lowly world number 84 ranked contender.
There will either be another English name or another Chinese one etched onto the silverware on this occasion, and few would have predicted Wakelin or Chang as probable champions at the start of the week’s action.
The latter continued his remarkable run in the calendar year’s concluding tournament with a thumping 6-1 defeat of Mark Allen in Saturday’s semi-finals.
The 23 year-old compiled breaks of 134, 108, 68, 67, and 57 in a one-sided display that pinned the 2018 champion in large spells to his chair.
Victory over Allen was just the latest in a string of brilliant victories at the event, with Stephen Maguire, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, and Mark Selby also among his conquests as he chases a maiden ranking crown.
Chang, who is back on the main tour this season after a brief spell away through suspension, had already shown glimpses of his capability earlier in the campaign.
His consistent performances had secured him a spot at the lucrative World Grand Prix through the one-year rankings list, but winning his first ranking title would represent a different level of breakthrough entirely.
Such has been his standard to get this far – particularly against the formidable opponents that he has beaten – Chang will probably even start the Scottish Open final as the favourite.
Wakelin, however, will have plenty to say about that as he attempts to claim a ranking event of substance for the first time in his career.
The 33 year-old of course won the Shoot Out in 2023, a glory that sparked a rising period during which he has firmly established himself as a top player.
However, he would undoubtedly want to underline those credentials with a triumph at a more traditional tournament.
Wakelin has come close to doing just that at various events over the last couple of years, including reaching the finals of the 2023 Northern Ireland Open and the 2024 International Championship.
He also performed well in making the quarters of the World Championship and the semis at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters earlier this year.
Wakelin, who beat Matthew Selt 6-4 in the other semi-final clash on the penultimate day, has already done enough to regain his spot among the top 16.
Yet he’ll likely feel that, following defeats to Judd Trump and Ding Junhui in his previous couple of finals, this is an opportunity he can’t let slip by.
The two finalists have encountered each other just once before on the World Snooker Tour – in the early stages of the 2021 Gibraltar Open when Wakelin won 4-2.
This best-of-17 tie will represent a vastly different proposition for both, with a big crowd expected to be in attendance for the climax of the third Home Nations Series event this term.
Wakelin boasts much more experience in the multi-session format which could give him the edge, but Chang’s overall form this week has been electrifying.
With that kind of momentum, the youngster could prove difficult to stop.
The 2025 Scottish Open final between Chris Wakelin and Chang Bingyu takes place over two sessions, commencing at 1pm and 7pm UTC/GMT.
Featured photo credit: WST
