Xiao Guodong's Wuhan Open title defence remains on track after semi-final victory over former world champion Mark Williams.
The Chinese player, who won the tournament in 2024, beat Welshman Williams 6-3 to book a showdown with Gary Wilson - who beat County Antrim's Mark Allen - in Saturday's best of 19-frame final.
Xiao told the World Snooker Tour's official website: "Maybe there's some kind of magic power in Wuhan that keeps pushing me forward. I also think it's thanks to the good luck and support I get from everyone here.
"For me, it is an honour to play legends like Mark Williams, John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Of course, after losing to Mark in the Champion of Champions final last year, beating him this time is a big boost to my confidence.
"I want to learn from these great players every time I face them."
Williams led early on, but could not shake off his opponent to leave the match finely poised at 3-3.
However from that point Xiao, who completed a maximum 147 in his 5-0 demolition of former women's world champion Mink Nutcharut earlier in the tournament, won three successive frames, recovering from a 58-0 deficit in the last to clinch victory with a 69 clearance which ensured he will battle it out for the £140,000 (€162,000) first prize once again.
Xiao said: "My focus really improved after 3-3. I told myself that even though my scoring wasn't great today, I needed to concentrate fully on the cue ball control on every single shot.
"Even in the final clearance, I wasn't nervous. I just tried to treat it as a normal situation and stay relaxed."
Xiao will face Wilson in the final after the Englishman earned a 6-2 win over Allen in his semi-final.
Wilson was handed an early scare after Allen won back-to-back frames to take a 2-1 lead, but he soon took control and won five successive frames to seal his spot in Saturday's showpiece.
