John Higgins encountered a challenge during his Scottish Open match against Noppon Saengkham due to a referee error in re-positioning a ball. The game took a chaotic turn after the first frame, which Saengkham won following a 36-minute opener. Higgins unintentionally kissed the pink ball while aiming for a distant red, leading to the need for the referee, Colin Humphries, to adjust the positions of the balls back to their original layout.
During the repositioning process, Humphries mistakenly touched the wrong ball, causing further disruption to the setup. This confusion prompted a prolonged discussion between the referee and the marker regarding the correct positions, leaving Higgins waiting with a bowed head. Commentator David Hendon humorously remarked on the unfolding fiasco, highlighting the unexpected turn of events.
After several attempts to rectify the situation, Higgins eventually took his shot, with the referee openly admitting his uncertainty about the ball positions. Following a series of adjustments and discussions, both players agreed to start the frame afresh, leading to a re-rack after approximately 20 minutes of confusion.
Despite the setback, Saengkham went on to secure a convincing 4-0 victory over Higgins, concluding with an impressive 100 break. This incident marked another peculiar occurrence involving the Scottish snooker player in recent matches, adding to the unpredictable nature of the competition.