Mark Williams produced a vintage performance to beat world number one Judd Trump and book his place in the final of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The 50-year-old, who is bidding to win his fourth title and become the oldest champion in tournament history, rolled back the years as he compiled four centuries and 10 breaks over 50 in a 17-14 victory at the Crucible.
The veteran Welshman will face a player young enough to be his son in the two-day final after 28-year-old Zhao Xintong thrashed seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in the other semi-final on Friday.
Williams, who has been struggling with his eyesight and is scheduled to undergo lens replacement surgery next month, trailed 7-3 early in the second session but fought back to level at 8-8 and won five of the eight frames played on Saturday morning to open up a 13-11 lead.
The left-hander carried on where he left off in the final session with breaks of 67 and 65 to move 15-11 ahead, before Trump hit back with his 106th century of the season to close the gap.
That ensured a mid-session interval would be required but Williams went into the break needing just one frame for victory after responding with a century of his own.
When play resumed Trump took the 29th frame to keep his hopes alive and also won the next with a 116 clearance after Williams missed a red to the middle with his first chance to seal victory.
Trump had the chance to pile on the pressure after a superb red to the middle in frame 31, but missed a difficult thin black and Williams grabbed the opportunity in style with a clearance of 123 to seal victory.
"I was starting to twitch towards the end, I'm not going to lie," Williams said. "The last frame I nearly missed the black and it frightened the life out of me. I’m never normally nervous at any time but I was during that break.
"I can’t believe I’m in another final. I don’t know how I’m doing it. How am I competing with the number one player in the world, who wins six tournaments a year, over three days? I’ve got to be proud of myself.
"I’m due to have lens replacement surgery on 12 June, deposit paid, but I’m going to have to have a think."
Williams won his first world title in 2000, when Zhao was just three years old, and knows from personal experience how talented his final opponent is.
"I played him in an exhibition when he was 12, it was 1-1 and he knocked in 130 and 138 to beat me 3-1, the little s***," Williams joked.
Trump was left to rue a number of opportunities to pull away from Williams, but was also full of praise for his opponent.
"The frame to go 11-9 ahead was very crucial and he really did not do a lot wrong after that," Trump said.
"It’s fine margins really, another day things could have changed around but he played some great snooker, put me under a lot of pressure and potted the right balls at the right time.
"If Mark plays to that standard in the final there’s no doubt in my mind that he will win."
Ronnie O'Sullivan believes Zhao has what it takes to become the first Chinese winner of the World Snooker Championship, and with it a "megastar", after beating the seven-time champion to reach the final.
He has had an extraordinary journey to the Crucible showpiece, which gets under way on Sunday and concludes on Monday, with his latest remarkable achievement a 17-7 semi-final win over O’Sullivan with a session to spare.
Having fought through four qualifying rounds as he continues his comeback following a 20-month ban for his involvement in a betting scandal, Zhao has since seen off Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin and O’Sullivan to join Ding Junhui as the only other player from China to reach the world final.
Zhao, who is playing as an amateur in Sheffield, showed his class against O’Sullivan on Friday as he won all eight frames in the morning to open up a 12-4 lead before finishing the job in the evening to knock out his hero.
O’Sullivan thinks 2021 UK Championship winner Zhao is capable of going all the way and feels it would be good for the sport if he did get his hands on the trophy.
He said: "I think it would be amazing. I think if he did win he would be a megastar.
"He’s still very big in China as it is. But if he becomes world champion it would just be amazing for snooker and for his life as well.
"He can definitely get over the line. I think he’ll have more of a test (in the final). That will be a proper test for him.
"He played great. You have to give credit where it’s due.
"We’ve got a really nice relationship. I’m always trying to help him if I can."
Sheffield-based Zhao wrapped up his semi-final victory with a day to spare and feels having the extra time to prepare for the final will stand him in good stead.
He said: "I’ve had one day off and that’s very good for me."
The 28-year-old admits winning the world crown would be the realisation of a childhood dream.
He added: "When I was eight or 10 years old, that was my first time playing snooker and (winning the World Championship) is my only dream still now.
"From that moment I thought it was really far, that dream, but now I can see it but I know it’s really far. But I will try."
