John Higgins faced a challenging moment during his Scottish Open match against Noppon Saengkham when a referee error disrupted the game. The 50-year-old snooker player competed against the Thai opponent in the second round, with Saengkham winning the first frame after 36 minutes.
The incident occurred when Higgins accidentally kissed the pink ball while aiming for a distant red. This led to the referee, Colin Humphries, having to reposition the pink and the red balls to their original spots, causing confusion in the game.
Humphries, in an attempt to correct the situation, mistakenly touched the wrong ball, further complicating the layout. A discussion ensued between the referee and the marker to determine the correct positions, while Higgins waited with a bowed head.
After a prolonged effort to reset the table, Higgins prepared to take his shot, with the referee admitting uncertainty about the ball positions. Eventually, after a series of events, the frame was nullified, and both players agreed to start afresh.
In the end, Saengkham emerged victorious with a 4-0 win over Higgins, showcasing a remarkable break of 100 points. This was just one of the peculiar incidents involving the Scottish snooker star during the tournament, adding to the drama of the competition.
