Chris Wakelin beat Xiao Guodong 9-8 in a final-frame decider to advance to the ultimate of the Worldwide Championship in Nanjing.
The Englishman led 5-3 after the opening session and moved 8-5 forward however started to falter, permitting China’s Xiao to attract degree in a tense finale.
Nonetheless, the previous grocery store supply driver sealed his win with a composed break of 67 and with it secured a spot within the prime 16 of the world rankings for the primary time, which implies he will probably be seeded for the UK Championship later this month.
The 32-year-old, who compiled eight half-centuries and a century, will now face Ding Junhui or Xu Si in Sunday’s ultimate.
“I’ve labored my whole life at this recreation for moments like this,” stated an emotional Wakelin.
“That was the toughest match of my life. From 8-5 I threw it away. I made ridiculously simple errors. Within the decider I knew it was now or by no means.
“I needed to neglect about what had occurred. I am so relieved to have a time without work tomorrow as a result of I am achieved in.”
Wakelin, who has crushed three former world champions – Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams and John Higgins – on the match will seem in solely the third rating occasion ultimate of his profession.