Lei Peifan is a Chinese professional snooker player who stunned the sport by winning the 2024 Scottish Open as a low-ranked outsider, producing one of the most unexpected ranking title victories of the modern era.
Lei Peifan – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 31 May 2003 |
| Nationality: | China |
| Turned professional: | 2019 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 29 |
| Ranking titles: | 1 |
| World Championship titles: | 0 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 0 |
| Masters appearances: | 0 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 0 |
Lei Peifan’s Snooker Career
Lei Peifan first turned professional in 2019 as a promising teenage player but found life on the Main Tour challenging. Across four seasons, he struggled to make a sustained impact and ultimately dropped off the professional circuit after failing to secure his tour card.
Rather than fading from contention, Lei returned to the amateur ranks and rebuilt his career. In 2024, he won the Asia Pacific Championship, a significant international amateur event that earned him a new place on the professional tour and offered a second opportunity to establish himself at elite level.
Only months after regaining his tour card, Lei produced one of the most remarkable breakthroughs in recent snooker history. At the 2024 Scottish Open, he entered the tournament ranked outside the top 80 and had never previously reached the quarter-finals of a ranking event.
During an extraordinary run, Lei defeated a series of established professionals, including Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, Tom Ford, and Mark Allen, all in deciding frames. He went on to lift the title and claim his maiden ranking event victory with victory over compatriot Wu Yize, a result that stunned the snooker world and transformed his career trajectory overnight.
In 2025, Lei made his World Championship debut and immediately left his mark by defeating defending champion Kyren Wilson in the opening round, inflicting the so-called Curse of the Crucible. His run ended in the second round with defeat to eventual champion Zhao Xintong, but the performance reinforced the legitimacy of his earlier breakthrough.
Lei Peifan’s Ranking Titles
Lei Peifan won 1 ranking title during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Scottish Open |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- Asia Pacific Championship (2024)
Lei Peifan and the Triple Crown
Lei Peifan has won 0 Triple Crown titles during his professional career.
- World Championship: 0 titles
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 0 titles
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Lei Peifan: ★★★
SHQ Star Rating: How it works →
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Featured photo credit: WST