Mark Selby saw off Neil Robertson 6-2 to reach the final of the Champion of Champions tournament in his hometown of Leicester, where he will take on world number one Judd Trump.
Helped by a 127 break in the second frame, Selby had taken a 3-1 lead into the interval which he then extended with a run of 80.
Robertson, though, dug in with a century of his own to pull another frame back.
After edging a tense seventh frame, Selby then missed the black off the spot on a break of 62 when looking set to wrap up victory in the eighth allowing the Australian another chance at the table.
The four-time world champion eventually came through a lengthy safety battle on the final red, which then left Robertson needing snookers and the handshake came after the Australian fouled on the brown.
