Ali Carter reached his first World Championship final by sealing an epic 17-15 win over Joe Perry at The Crucible on Saturday night.
Carter will now meet his former training partner Ronnie O'Sullivan after surviving a nerve-racked battle.
The two players had been locked at 12-12 going into the final session after a see-saw morning's play.
And Carter came from 15-14 down in the evening to win three frames in a row and end Perry's brave bid.
An emotional Carter told BBC Sport: "I was just trying to take one ball at a time - it was a really tough match, and to get over the line was extra special.
"I'm mentally tired but I'm sure Ronnie is too"
"It means everything to me. My two nans passed away in quick succession a few weeks ago and they would have loved to have seen this - but I've got two angels on my shoulders this week.
"I'm mentally tired but I'm sure Ronnie is too. I'll just keep punching and if I'm there in the final session we'll see what happens."
Both players made errors as the match entered its final stages and the prospect of the biggest prize of their careers loomed large.
Perry, who had begun the day 9-7 behind, had looked in complete control after winning the first four frames of the day.
Carter only scored 24 points before the mid-session interval but when play resumed, a 68 run reduced the deficit.
Perry responded with an 82 in the next but Carter dug in to win the next two frames.
606: DEBATE
Perry edged in front 13-12 with a break of 57 in the first frame of the evening before Carter hit back with a 63 to take the next 114-8.
Carter then played a poor positional shot in the 27th frame to let his opponent back in, and after an outrageous fluke a fluent break of 62 saw Perry take a 14-13 lead.
The pair struggled in the next, with straightforward pots missed by both before Carter doggedly brought it level at the mid-session interval.
Perry charged out of the blocks with his sixth century break of the championship to move within two of victory, only for Carter to compile a classy 77 to make it 15-15.
Carter went in front for the first time since 9-8 when Perry was disturbed over a pot by a mobile phone going off.
And he held on in a desperately tight frame at the death to receive a standing ovation from a packed Crucible.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~08~RS~)