Mark Allen hit a maximum 147 in a thrilling fightback against Mark Selby to edge his Masters quarter-final clash at Alexandra Palace.
Having found himself 2-0 and 4-1 down, the 37-year-old, buoyed by the third maximum clearance of his professional career, dug deep to take the deciding frame and a semi-final date with Ali Carter.
Selby raced into a 2-0 before Allen treated the crowd to the second maximum break of this year's tournament, following in the footsteps of Ding Junhui earlier this week.
The four-time world champion however responded with the next two frames before 'Pistol’ reeled off three on the spin to level matters at 4-4.
Allen edged ahead in the contest for the first time before Selby claimed the 10th frame to send it to a decider, which Allen took 68-46.
He now faces Carter after he dumped out defending Masters champion Judd Trump in a game that also went down to the wire.
Carter was losing 5-4 and facing an exit in the 10th frame only for his opponent to over-cut the matchball red, allowing the 44-year-old to seize his chance and produce a 43 clearance to take it to a decider.
Boosted by that momentum a break of 64 then saw Carter - who had been 4-2 up only for Trump to fight back with a break of 129 on his way to winning three frames in succession - through to only his second Masters semi in 13 attempts.
"For all the money, I looked like going 5-3 in front and lost my composure for a couple of frames," Carter said in his post-match interview.
"I felt like I worked really hard but was delighted to make an unbelievable clearance to force a decider.
"Then how I've held myself together there, I don't know - that's a feather in my cap."
The other semi-final sees Ronnie O'Sullivan face Shaun Murphy.
