John Higgins came from 5-3 down to beat Zak Surety 6-5 in the semi-finals of the Weide Cup World Open in Yushan, remaining on track for a first ranking title in four years.
World number 89 Surety had enjoyed a career-best run, having never previously been beyond the last 16 of a ranking event, but the 33-year-old finished the week in anguish having missed several clear chances for victory in the last three frames. He banks his biggest pay-day of £33,000 but misses out on a certain £75,000 for the runner up and possible £175,000 for the winner.
Higgins will meet Ali Carter or Joe O'Connor on Saturday with the chance of a 32nd ranking title and first since the 2021 Players Championship exactly four years ago. The Scot, who turns 50 in May, becomes the oldest ranking event finalist since the 1986 Grand Prix when a 53-year-old Rex Williams lost to Jimmy White.
World number 13 Higgins will be playing in the 57th ranking final of his 33-year pro career, and second of the season having lost to Mark Selby at the Unibet British Open in September. As it stands he is up to tenth place in the Johnstone's Paint One-Year rankings and is on track to qualify for both the Sportsbet.io Players Championship and Sportsbet.io Tour Championship.
After sharing the first two frames, Essex potter Surety won a scrappy third then made an excellent 65 clearance to lead 3-1. Higgins hit back with breaks of 113 and 94 for 3-3, only for Surety to regain the lead with a 56 in frame seven, then make a 38 clearance in the eighth for 5-3.
The underdog looked composed in the ninth and was edging towards the winning post until he ran out of position on 53. He then played a loose safety, leaving a red close to a top corner, and Higgins potted it to set up a tide-turning 72 clearance.
Another safety error from Surety in frame ten when he trailed 36-20, leaving his opponent a red to centre, proved costly as Higgins added 38 points for 5-5. In the decider, Surety built a run of 41 and had the balls well-placed, but missed a red to top corner. Higgins, under pressure himself, failed to convert a red to centre, but then Surety's attempted red to the same pocket also missed the target. This time there was no reprieve as Higgins cleared expertly with 72.
"It feels amazing to win, I'm buzzing," said Higgins. "Zak will be pig sick because he totally outplayed me, he just missed a couple of crucial balls at the end. He was holding himself together brilliantly at 5-3, every credit to him in his first semi. It's a tough game when you're under pressure.
"It will be hard for him to take but hopefully he'll reflect on reaching the semi-finals and the ranking points. He is such an improved player, I think he'll keep moving up. Hopefully this will make him better as every player goes through devastating losses. He had some nice words for me at the end and that shows the mark of the man. You want good things to happen to people like that, when they take defeats with good grace.
"At 5-3 I was trying to stay positive. There was pressure at the end and I still had to go in and pot the balls. I have been on the receiving end of so many deciders in the last few years. Maybe beating Zhou Yuelong 5-4 this week helped me because I was able to keep myself under control today.
"I will be playing a great cueist in the final. Ali has won a lot of tournaments, and Joe has hit the ball better than anyone this week. Hopefully play my best tomorrow, I'll give it my all."