Scottish Open 2025: Everything about the tournament, format, highlights and matchups of the year!

The 2025 Scottish Open arrives in Edinburgh between December 15th and 21st, bringing another edition of the tournament that is part of the Home Nations Series and is one of the most traditional events in modern snooker. For those who follow the circuit or are looking for sports betting options, the Blaze Sports Betting page is already the ideal starting point to get up to speed before the competition.

Held at the Meadowbank Sports Centre, the championship marks the 11th stage of the 2025/26 season and brings together the 32 best players in the ranking plus 32 qualifiers. With a total prize pool of £550,400, dynamic matches, and the traditional Scottish atmosphere, the Scottish Open promises to close the year with balanced confrontations, surprises from the qualifiers, and decisive clashes that could alter the landscape of the world ranking.

What is the Scottish Open?

The Scottish Open is one of the most traditional tournaments in professional snooker, part of the Home Nations Series. Originally created in 1981 as the International Open, it gained its current name in 1998 and, since then, has established itself as one of the most important stages of the circuit. After a period off the calendar, the event returned as a ranking event in 2016 and began awarding the champion with the Stephen Hendry Trophy, in homage to the seven-time world champion.

The 2025 edition marks the 10th consecutive edition since the tournament's resumption, bringing together big names in the sport and maintaining the fast and competitive format that pleases both players and fans.

Event Environment and Culture

Held again in Edinburgh, at the Meadowbank Sports Centre, the tournament offers an atmosphere that combines the classic formality of snooker with the vibrant energy of the local crowd. The Scottish public is known for being extremely respectful during matches, but also for celebrating decisive moments with enthusiasm, especially when home players like John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, or Anthony McGill are in action.

The stands usually bring together everyone from veteran fans who have followed the sport for decades to new fans attracted by the rise of young Chinese and European talents. Behind the scenes, the atmosphere is known for being one of the most "family-friendly" on the circuit. Players often highlight the organization, the closeness of the audience, and the feeling of competing in one of the most historic events of the season.

And, of course, there is the symbolic weight of lifting the Stephen Hendry Trophy, a tribute to the greatest Scottish champion in history, a detail that reinforces the tradition and emotional importance of the tournament. The result is a championship that combines sporting elite, history, tradition, and a unique audience.

Tournament Format

The 2025 Scottish Open follows a knockout format, divided into qualifying rounds and a main draw:

Qualifying

Players ranked 65–96 face athletes below the Top 96 and some wildcards. The winners face the 33–64 seeds in the second round. Only then do the 32 qualified players meet the Top 32 in the ranking in the main draw.

Main Draw (Last 64 onwards)

From the last 64 onwards, the tournament progresses in a knockout format until the final:

• Initial Rounds: best of 7 frames (first to 4)
• Quarterfinals: best of 9 frames
• Semifinals: best of 11 frames
• Final: best of 17 frames, played in two sessions

This format maintains the fast pace in the early rounds, but preserves longer and more technical matches in the decisive phases, where endurance, precision and emotional control make all the difference.

Important Dates

The 2025 Scottish Open follows a compact schedule over a single week:

• Competition start (Last 64): December 15th
• Intermediate rounds (Last 32, Last 16 and quarterfinals): December 16th to 19th
• Semifinals: December 20th
• Grand Final: December 21st, in two periods

The entire final phase will be played at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, concluding the tournament before Christmas.

Prizes

The 2025 Scottish Open offers a total prize pool of £ 550,400, distributed throughout all stages of the tournament. The champion takes home £ 100,000 and the prestigious Stephen Hendry Trophy, while the runner-up receives £ 45,000. The prize money follows a progressive model, rewarding performance from the Last 96 to the final.

In addition to the prize money distributed per round, there is also a £ 5,000 bonus for the player who registers the highest break of the tournament. And, as part of the Home Nations Series, participants also compete for the special prize of £ 150,000, awarded to the athlete who accumulates the most financial gains across the four tournaments of the series.

This structure makes the Scottish Open a highly competitive event, both for its prestige and significant financial return.

Main Players

The 2025 Scottish Open arrives full of strong stories. The big name of the moment is Lei Peifan, who returns to Edinburgh as the defending champion after winning his first ranking title in 2024 by beating Wu Yize 9–5. He will try to prove that his rise was no coincidence and keep the Stephen Hendry trophy in his hands.

Among the notable presences, the public will be able to watch stars such as Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong, all in great form this season. On the other hand, the big absence is Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was out of the tournament for medical reasons, a loss that always makes a difference in the atmosphere of the event.

Main Draw (Last 64)

The Last 64 officially opens the tournament with matches that mix seeded players, qualified debutants and high-profile duels. Among the most anticipated matches are:

• John Higgins vs. Antoni Kowalski: the Scot plays at home and opens the campaign against one of the most promising young players of the new generation.
• Shaun Murphy vs. Liu Hongyu: Murphy arrives in excellent form after good campaigns this season.
• Neil Robertson vs. He Guoqiang: a duel that tests the Australian's consistency against one of the Chinese revelations.
• Zhao Xintong vs. Robert Milkins: the current world champion faces an experienced and dangerous opponent.
• Mark Selby vs. Robbie McGuigan: Selby debuts against a rising talent who has already shown maturity in big games.
• Mark Williams vs. Ben Mertens: the Xi’an Grand Prix champion faces one of the most respected young players on the circuit.

Other important matchups include Murphy, Hawkins, Allen, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, all paving their way to the title in a balanced bracket full of possibilities for surprises.

Where to Watch

Those who want to follow the tournament live have several options. In the United Kingdom, the Scottish Open will be broadcast on Eurosport, available free of charge to Sky and Virgin Media subscribers. It is also possible to watch via Discovery+, which offers full broadcasts in both the UK and several European countries. Amazon Prime Video subscribers can add the channel for a monthly fee. For those who prefer to watch online, Discovery+ offers affordable plans with live games and complementary content.

Bet on the Scottish Open 2025 at Blaze

Before betting on the Scottish Open 2025, it is essential to remember that sports betting should be seen as entertainment, never as an investment, profession, or source of income. Gambling without control can bring serious risks to mental health, including anxiety, financial loss, and compulsive behaviors. Therefore, only bet with money that you can afford and within your means.

Studying the tournament, analyzing players, understanding the format, and knowing statistics are part of a conscious bet. 

If you want to follow the games with even more excitement, check out the markets available on Blaze's Snooker page. Plan your bets responsibly and enjoy every frame of the tournament in Edinburgh!