Lei Peifan has become a ranking event winner out of nowhere (Picture: Getty Images)
Lei Peifan is the 2024 Scottish Open champion after a 9-5 win over Wu Yize as the 21-year-old completes a dream week in Edinburgh.
The world number 84 had never been beyond the last 16 of a ranking event before his trip to Scotland this week, but has hit form in sensational style.
After winning two qualifying games to reach the main stages, Lei beat Hossein Vafaei, Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham to reach his first ever quarter-final.
There he edged out recent Shoot Out winner Tom Ford 5-4 and then secured a stunning win over Mark Allen in the semis.
The unheralded youngster was 5-2 down against the world number five but then reeled off four frames on the spin to win 6-5.
He met fellow 21-year-old Wu in the final, and although Wu was also looking for his first ranking title, he was the clear favourite having been to the English Open final earlier this season and impressing in a string of other tournaments in recent years.
However, Lei dominated the contest, strolling into a 4-0 lead as Wu struggled to find anything like his best form.
Wu Yize was the clear favourite to win the final (Picture: Getty Images)
Wu did fight hard and battled back to just one frame behind at 5-4, but Lei then won the next three to go one from victory.
Lei lost the next but then got over the line in the 14th frame to secure a famous victory and the £100,000 top prize.
Wu told Eurosport: ‘I got really lucky to make it this far this week, I should have lost in the quarter-finals. Lei Peifan did really well to become champion.’
The champion added: ‘I got very, very lucky. The goal I set out earlier this week was to get into the last 16, because my previous best finish was a last 16.
‘Wu Yize is bound to get a title in the future and for me this week all the effort I’ve been putting in is all totally worth it. The last year has been really difficult for me, I just got back on tour this year so it means a lot.’
Lei Peifan has announced himself as a threat (Picture: Getty Images)
It is an incredible story for Lei after he dropped off the professional tour last year and won his place back on the circuit at the start of this season.
He did show signs of form at the Saudi Arabia Masters in September, beating Bai Yulu, Jamie Clarke, Robbie Williams and Joe O’Connor before losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
He has now put his first ranking title on his CV and has booked a place in next season’s Champion of Champions as a result, jumping up to number 43 in the world.
Wu pockets £45,000 for his efforts this week and will be disappointed with his under-par performance, but has enjoyed another fine week as he makes his way up the world rankings.