John Higgins faced a challenging situation during his Scottish Open match against Noppon Saengkham due to a referee error in repositioning a ball. The game started with Saengkham winning the first frame after 36 minutes, but it quickly turned chaotic when Higgins accidentally hit the pink while trying to reach a distant red.
Referee Colin Humphries struggled to correct the error, leading to confusion as he attempted to reposition the balls. A debate ensued with the marker about the original positions while Higgins patiently waited. Eventually, after several failed attempts to resolve the issue, both players agreed to restart the frame.
Saengkham went on to secure a 4-0 victory over Higgins, ending with an impressive 100 break. This incident added to a series of unusual occurrences involving Higgins in recent matches, including a mishap with the spider cue against Antoni Kowalski in the first round.
Despite the setbacks, Higgins maintained his composure and continued to play competitively. The match drew attention from fans and commentators alike, highlighting the unpredictable nature of snooker tournaments.