Barry Hawkins came through a deciding frame to beat Mark Allen 6-5 in a gruelling late night battle to make the final of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship in York.
With the clock just shy of 1am, the Hawk cracked in a stunning long range red to set up a steely winning clearance of 26 to book a place in his first ever UK final and fourth Triple Crown title match.
Hawkins has won four ranking titles, but 28 years after first turning professional in 1996, he's still hunting a maiden Triple Crown win. Having lost Masters finals to Neil Robertson and Ronnie O'Sullivan and a World Championship final against the Rocket, Hawkins now faces Judd Trump tomorrow for the title and £250,000.
The Londoner's run this week has already seen him defeat O'Sullivan, before adding wins against David Gilbert and Shaun Murphy. This evening's match was possibly the sternest test of his mental fortitude, with the game panning out in an attritional and fragmented manner.
It was 2023 UK Champion Allen who led 4-2, before breaks of 57 and 84 helped Hawkins to restore parity at 4-4. Allen regained the lead and moved one from the win, but a superb 114 from Hawkins forced the final frame. After five hours and six minutes of play, he got over the line to seal a momentous win.
Hawkins said: "It was an absolutely gruelling match. To come through one of those games, I'm over the moon. It wasn't pretty to watch. I had one good frame to level at 5-5. I can't remember many other frames that were any good. It was just a battle. I'm completely drained.
"I stuck in there. I just kept trying, that is all you can do. I just tried not to beat myself up. When you are scoring bad and missing balls it becomes really hard. You never know what can happen, I've fell over the line tonight and I'm pleased I managed to dig in.
"It isn't easy is it? Look at how many great players I had to beat this week. To get to another Triple Crown final is brilliant. I am really looking forward to playing Judd. It should be a great occasion. I'll get the family up and I hope we put on a good performance."