John Higgins' Scottish Open second-round match against Noppon Saengkham descended into chaos on Wednesday evening after referee Colin Humphries struggled to replace balls correctly, leading to an abandoned frame.
The opening frame had proceeded smoothly, with Saengkham claiming it after 36 minutes. But early in the second frame, Higgins clipped the pink while attempting a red. Under normal rules, Humphries was required to restore the pink and reds to their original positions. However, after consulting his overhead monitor, the referee admitted uncertainty, asking: 'Was it this red?' He then moved the wrong ball, further disrupting the table.
A lengthy discussion between Humphries and the marker followed while Higgins sat with his head lowered. Commentator David Hendon remarked: 'I'm sure this wasn't on your Christmas list, Colin. We could be here a while. That's not the right red, I'm afraid.' When Humphries eventually gave Higgins the cue, he confessed: 'Are you okay where the reds are, because I haven't got a clue!' Both players then opted to return the ball safely. After a 20-minute stalemate, the frame was abandoned and a re-rack ordered.
Saengkham ultimately triumphed 4-0, finishing with a 100 break. The incident follows another odd moment in Higgins' first-round win over Antoni Kowalski on Monday, where his cue slipped off a spider rest and hit a cluster of reds. Hendon called it 'the opposite of a Christmas cracker', while co-commentator Neal Foulds, trying not to laugh, added: 'This is one of the greatest players the world's ever seen, ladies and gentlemen.'
