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Martin O’Donnell won a tense deciding frame against Elliot Slessor to reach a first career ranking final at the Welsh Open in Llandudno.
After a tense safety battle, O’Donnell took his chance and made the first century break of the match – 133 – to win 6-5.
O’Donnell had built a 5-3 lead, but Slessor made breaks of 95 and 93 to set up the decider.
O’Donnell will face either John Higgins or Gary Wilson in Sunday’s final.
“I was just enjoying it and I thought of all the hours you put in at the club, everything you do,” O’Donnell said.
“I was like ‘come on, let’s see what you’re made of here, let’s see if you stand up to the task.’
“That is all I was concentrating on really.
“Weirdly enough it was probably the most composed I’ve felt in a match at five each.”
World number 76 O’Donnell had stunned world champion Luca Brecel in the quarter-final to set up a meeting with Slessor, who dashed hopes of a first Welsh winner in 25 years when he beat Dominic Dale.
Five-time winner Higgins booked his place in the last four with a comfortable 5-2 win over world number three Mark Allen.
His opponent Wilson is in top form, having followed up knocking out defending champion Robert Milkins 4-0 with an equally emphatic 5-0 win over Anthony McGill.
