World champion Zhao Xintong survived a major scare as he fought back to beat Mark Allen 6-5 to set up a Sportsbet.io Players Championship final showdown with John Higgins.
The 28-year-old scrapped his way to victory at the Telford International Centre in the final two frames to deny Allen victory in a contest which was in the balance throughout.
From 1-1, it was Allen who made the first move, winning the next two – the first of them with a visit of 107 – to go 3-1 ahead.
Zhao responded with a break of 140 to take the fifth and reduce the deficit, but the Northern Irishman restored it in the sixth, only for the Chinese player hit back with a breaks of 103 and 58 to level it at 4-4.
Allen went ahead again by taking the ninth frame 97-6, but Zhao ensured it went to a decider which he took with a break of 56 to set up Sunday's clash with Higgins.
The four-time world champion had earlier edged another tense encounter amid a concerted fightback from world number one Judd Trump to edge his way into his 60th ranking final.
Higgins raced into a 3-0 lead with breaks of 71, 57 and 76 and although Trump reduced the deficit, he went 4-1 ahead to leave his opponent staring down the barrel.
However, the Englishman responded in gritty fashion, winning four of the next five frames despite making only one notable break of 68 to set up a decider which the 50-year-old Scot edged to win it 6-5.
