Last year's runner-up Ronnie O'Sullivan battled his way into the 2007 SAGA Insurance Masters final, with a 6-4 win over Scot Stephen Maguire.
The 'Rocket's' scrappy semi-final victory at the Wembley Arena earned him a best-of-19 showdown with Chinese prodigy Ding Junhui.
O'Sullivan, who refused to speak to the press this week following his unprecedented walk-out at the Maplin UK Championship last month, struggled badly to find top gear in front of a big crowd.
But in a surprise turn of events, he decided to speak to journalists - after booking his place in this showcase final.
The two-time winner was far from happy with his performance, especially in front of his vocal home supporters.
'I'm so embarrassed admitted O'Sullivan.
'I thought everyone was laughing at me. Playing like that, I'll get beat in the final.
'That's a big loss for him. He must have been playing as badly as he possibly could to get beat.
'Stephen should be disappointed. I didn't think he could play as badly as that.'
O'Sullivan won the opening frame with a 76 break, but from there on in it was scrappy snooker.
Maguire, the 2004 UK champion, pinched a long-winded second which lasted nearly half-an-hour.
But O'Sullivan then won the next two frames for a welcome 3-1 interval lead.
The world number three pocketed breaks of 48, 47 and 88 to leave Milton's Maguire sat in his seat.
However, refreshed and refocused following the resumption, Maguire compiled a cool 61 break - and then pinched the sixth frame to level the match at 3-3.
O'Sullivan raised his game again and - with an excellent 130 break, the highest of the match - edged ahead again.
The match went level again as Maguire battled his way back, before Chigwell potter O'Sullivan sunk a 41 and then a 69 break in the final frame to book his place in the final.
'It was embarrassing really,' said Maguire.
'That's all I can say.
'He didn't even deserve to win it. Neither of us played well.
'I've never missed as many balls as that.
'I still can't believe how badly I played. I should have got beat 6-0.'
