Defending Scottish Open champion Gary Wilson had his back firmly to the wall in the 11th and final frame with the scoreline deadlocked at 5-5 and required three snookers to clinch a place in the BetVictor Scottish Open Final.
But the Wallsend-based player, nicknamed The Tyneside Terror kept his cool against Chinese cueman Zhou Yuelong and will now play either Scotland’s last hope, John Higgins, or Noppon Saengkham in Sunday’s final at Meadowbank.
The semi-final session started well for Wilson, winning the first frame 81-32, but he lost the second 106-0 when his opponent compiled an excellent break of 106.
Yuelong won the close third 59-55 but Wilson hit back to level at 2-2 with a break of 88 for a 95-18 scoreline, but his rival was not knocked out of his stride as he won the next 98-34 with a break of 56.
Yuelong secured the sixth 76-13 leaving the defending champion in a tight corner. Wilson responded with a seventh-frame win, claiming it 77-52, but this see-saw battle took another twist with Yuelong winning the eighth 82-9 with a break of 77 to come within one frame of victory.
A magnificent 122 break saw Wilson, ranked No 20 in the world, staring down the barrel, but he won the frame with Yuelong failing to score and then he claimed the tenth 72-33 to level at 5-5 thanks to another 50-plus break, this time 54.
Into the final frame and Yuelong, ranked one place below Wilson, looked set for victory with a 69 break, but Wilson, who has been unhappy with his form this week, dug deep and overhauled his opponent 79-72 with a gutsy response.
FLASHBACK: Gary Wilson celebrates winning the Scottish Open with his family
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