Mark Williams scored his first win over Neil Robertson in seven years as a tremendous 6-2 victory put him into the final of the Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions.
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Williams goes through to play Xiao Guodong in Sunday's final in Bolton, with the winner to collect the trophy and £150,000 top prize. There is sure to be a new name on the trophy as Xiao is making his debut in the event this year and Williams had never previously been beyond the last 16 in three previous attempts.
The Welshman is one win away from his second title of 2024, having landed the Tour Championship crown in April. Just five months short of his 50th birthday, the world number six still thrives on the big occasion. He narrowly missed out on the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters title in September, losing the final 10-9 to Judd Trump, and now has the chance to make amends.
Williams had lost his previous seven meetings with Robertson, a sequence stretching back to 2017, but dominated from the start tonight. Breaks of 50 and 66 helped the three-time Crucible king take a 2-0 lead, then in frame three, he trailed 52-31 when Robertson trapped him in a tough snooker on the last red. On the second hit-and-hope attempt, Williams enjoyed an outrageous fluke, sending the red scuttling into a centre pocket, and he took advantage by clearing the table for 3-0.
A run of 70 made it 4-0, and though Robertson pulled one back after the interval with a 78, he had to sit his chair as Williams compiled a superb 132 for 5-1. Australia's Robertson added some respectability to the scoreline with a run of 68 to take frame seven, but there would be no fight-back as Williams settled the result with a 61 in the eighth.
"I'm really pleased, I am hitting the ball very well," Williams told ITV. "My safety was good, I created chances and potted a couple of crazy balls. Perhaps I should give myself more credit because I am taking it to these youngsters and I'm in another big final. My all-round game is better than ever and that's why I am still competing with the top players. I came here with no expectations so there is no pressure on me tomorrow."