Stephen Hendry let his snooker do the talking as he knocked out defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach his ninth Embassy World
Championship final at the Crucible Theatre.
Hendry had been stung by O'Sullivan's pre-match outburst in which the Rocket claimed that he had lost "a lot of respect" for the seven-time winner over a much-publicised incident revolving around a 'miss' shot in their 1999 semi-final meeting.
There was a decidedly frosty atmosphere in the arena during the match, which was poised at 12-12 entering the final session.
But Hendry ensured there would be no way back for O'Sullivan after he won the opening four frames in less than an hour.
The 34-year-old, who had demonstrated he still has the will to win in his nail-biting quarter-final win over Ken Doherty, came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.
Now, having beaten O’Sullivan 17-13, he will now be looking to notch up his eighth world title in just 13 years while O'Sullivan's exit means no first-time world champion has successfully defended his crown at the Crucible.