Barry Hawkins and Jamie Cope will clash in the second of this year's China Open semi-finals.
While Cope cruised to a 5-0 whitewash of former world champion Shaun Murphy in their quarter-final clash at the Beijing University Gymnasium, Hawkins edged through in dramatic fashion in a last-frame decider with Ken Doherty, another former world champion.
The Dartford left-hander edged the Dubliner 5-4, but at 60-0 in the ninth and final frame looked to be heading home.
'The luck is definitely on my side this week in China,' reflected the world number 16.
'I've had no luck all season, I must have saved up all my luck all season. But I think I might have used it all up now!
'The first four frames were very good, but after the interval it was very scrappy and very tense. I was just pleased to have won from 60-0 behind,' added Hawkins, who earlier this month reached the final of the Kilkenny Irish Masters, one of the season's invitational events.
'The first hurdle for me is to beat Jamie, but I'd love to get to my first final. I need the ranking points, so hopefully I can go all the way.'
Doherty had breaks of 59, 61, 52 and 44 to leave himself within touching distance of victory, but Hawkins pocketed runs of 73, 137, 41 and 56 to earn a meeting with Cope in the next phase.
'I didn't get any luck in that last frame, it's really cruel to lose the match like that,' admitted Doherty, the provisional world number one.
'I thought I'd won the frame, but Barry did well and won that last frame. It was a case of so near, but so far again.'
In the other evening quarter-final Cope raced to a 5-0 whitewash of Shaun Murphy.
Breaks of 145, 76, 61 and 45 saw the Longton potter cruise to a sweet victory, revenge for his 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Murphy in the last 16 stage of the Welsh Open.
'I just didn't miss a ball,' said a delighted Cope.
'I'd love to win this tournament, I'm playing well enough.'
