Steve Davis became the oldest finalist in a ranking tournament for 19 years tonight when he clung on for a nervy 9-6 victory over Stephen Hendry at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.
The 48-year-old looked home and dry when he led 8-2 but had to resist a brave fightback from his one-time arch-rival in their emotionally-charged semi-final before securing a meeting with either Chinese youngster Ding Junhui or world number 14 Joe Perry in Sunday's showdown.
Hendry, who succeeded Davis as king of the green baize at the turn of the 1990s, was woefully out of sorts in the opening session and could win only one of the first eight frames.
But he found his form with a vengeance tonight when his back was against the wall and appeared set to make it 8-7 when he held a 59-point lead in frame 15, only to miss the black off its spot and let in Davis for a match-winning clearance of 66.
In the quest to secure his 100th career final appearance everything went Davis' way from the start as Hendry, with his first shot of the match, missed a long red and the cue ball ran through into the pocket.
The six-time world champion did not have to make a half-century break to race 5-0 ahead, Hendry then getting off the mark before Davis unleashed some of the superb potting which carried him to success over title-holder Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty, knocking in a 57 and an 87 to lead 7-1.
Although the 36-year-old from Perthshire at least ensured there would be a mid-session interval by winning three of tonight's first four frames, he was still way off his best and at one point held his headtapped his forehead in frustration after running out of position.
But after the break Hendry finally produced his true form and a break of 130 made it 8-5, he took the next to raise the prospect of an amazing comeback and was in control of the 15th frame before the costly miss which ultimately ended his chance of matching Davis' record of six UK titles.
