China's Yuan Sijun is through to the second ranking event semi-final of his career after prevailing 5-4 over Neil Robertson at the Machineseeker German Masters in Berlin.
Yuan hasn't made the final four of a ranking event since the Gibraltar Open in 2019, when he was whitewashed by Stuart Bingham. He will now face Englishman Barry Hawkins in front of a packed Tempodrom crowd of over 2,000 fans tomorrow evening.
It was a second consecutive decider for Yuan, who came through a nerve shredding encounter with recently crowned Masters champion Shaun Murphy 5-4 in the last 16.
Defeat ends 24-time ranking event winner Robertson's quest for a maiden Berlin crown. He made the final in 2020, but was beaten by Judd Trump.
Breaks of 52, 100 and 75 helped Yuan to secure a 3-1 lead at the mid-session this evening. When play resumed Robertson took a tight fifth to reduce his arrears, but it was Yuan who claimed the sixth to move one from the win at 4-2.
Robertson kept in contention by winning the seventh, before a dramatic eighth. It came down to the colours, with Robertson clearing to steal on the black, after a stunning positional shot on the brown afforded him a route to the frame.
A nervy decider saw Yuan miss opportunities to put his opponent away, but a break of 57 eventually proved to be critical as he got over the line.
Hawkins earned his progression with a brilliant 5-3 win over the runner-up in this season's English and Scottish Opens, Wu Yize.
The Hawk is set for a second ever appearance in the single table setup at the Tempodrom, having first made the semis in 2013.
The Englishman has enjoyed a strong season thus far, highlighted by a brilliant run to the final of the UK Championship before Christmas. On that occasion he was pipped 10-8 by Judd Trump, he will be hoping to go one step further and capture the title this weekend.
Breaks of 138, 73, 89 and 60 helped four-time ranking event winner Hawkins to victory this evening and he cannot wait to take to the baize in front of a packed Berlin crowd tomorrow.
Hawkins said: "I'm over the moon. Wu has been one of the players of the season. He is such a devastating long potter. There were hardly any balls missed. To play well and beat him is really pleasing.
"Even out there tonight, it was almost a full house. The atmosphere is amazing. To get through to the one table setup, after such a long time, is great. I'm really looking forward to it. The German fans are probably the best in the world. They are so enthusiastic and clap every shot. They love the game, so to walk out into that arena tomorrow will be great."
Hawkins Winning Interview