Qualifier Gary Wilson showed few signs of nerves as he shared the opening eight frames of the second semi-final with former finalist Judd Trump.
Wilson fired a break of 140 - just one behind the existing championship best held by his opponent - as he nudged into a 2-1 lead in the match.
Trump won the first and last frames of a high-speed mini-session but mistakes played into Wilson's hands as there was little to choose between the pair in the early stages.
Trump surged out after the mid-session interval with a brilliant 39 break to nudge himself back into a one-frame lead. But carelessness continued to cost him dear and an early mistake in the next allowed the seemingly nerveless Wilson to haul level again at 3-3.
The Newcastle player took advantage of a fluke to grab the initiative in a scrappy seventh frame, then was first in the balls to try to fashion an overnight lead.
After Wilson ran out of position on 25, Trump responded with a break of 54 which would ultimately prove enough to level the overnight score at 4-4.
