Ken Doherty produced one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Embassy World Championship to overcome Paul Hunter 17-16 and reach his third final after an afternoon of high drama at The Crucible Theatre.
Hunter needed only two frames to set up his first attempt at capturing snooker's most coveted crown as he led 15-9 going into the last of four sessions.
But suddenly the nerves grabbed hold of the Yorkshireman who has looked so relaxed and composed throughout the previous fortnight and he began to miss even the most straightforward of opportunities.
Doherty is also one of the game's most durable characters and he had shown his mettle by overcoming Shaun Murphy (10-9) and Graham Dott (13-12) in last frame deciders earlier in the tournament.
Now he demonstrated nerves of steel as Hunter wilted in winning six frames out of seven to cut his leeway to 16-15 in the best of 33 marathon.
The snooker was not always of the highest quality as chances went begging but it was never anything less than gripping for an enthralled full house in Sheffield.
It brought back memories of other Crucible comebacks including Dennis Taylor's 1985 triumph over Steve Davis from 8-0 down and Mark Williams' 2000 triumph over Matthew Stevens from 13-7 in arrears.
Hunter will be devastated after playing so well in a tournament where he had previously managed just one victory in four visits and it will be a massive examination of his character to see how he responds to this disappointment.
But it is Doherty who will have a crack at probably Mark Williams who needs just one more frame to dispose of Stephen Lee in the evening session as he holds a 16-8 advantage.
The hard work looked to have been done by Hunter but Doherty made a positive start with an impressive run of 73 taking his frame tally into double figures.
And it was the same scenario in the next as Hunter broke down when leading 19-1 and Doherty steped in with a clearance of 94. Hunter had a golden chance to clinch frame 27 when he led 62-36 but he missed the final black and Doherty cleared up to win by one point.
Then it became four frames in a row for Doherty after Hunter, ahead by 52-0, snookered himself on all the colours after potting a red.
It gave Doherty a life-line and again he held himself together with a superb 60 clearance including a difficult brown. Hunter was also favourite in frame 29 but he left the final red over the pocket and Doherty's 25 to the black put him just one behind at 15-14.
The tension was unbearable and the next frame spanned nearly half an hour with a succession of unforced errors before Hunter finally opened his account for the day by taking brown to pink.
Frame 31 was past the 35 minute mark before Doherty fluked the final blue to leave Hunter needing a snooker which he failed to obtain as the deficit was again brought back to one.
It became 16-16 and a one frame shoot-out when a 42 from Doherty again left Hunter needing snookers and he conceded after one failed attempt.
Hunter was first amongst the balls but broke down on only six after failing to put away a straightforward red. Doherty responded with 40 but was then forced to play safe after having nothing left on when he split the pack.
The Dubliner was given another opportunity after Hunter had left a red over the black left pocket and a break of 32 left his opponent needing two snookers - and shortly afterwards he conceded.