Mark Selby made a superb 131 break in the deciding frame of his 5-4 win over Jackson Page to move into the semi-finals of the English Open.
The four-time world champion trailed 2-1 and 3-2 against Welshman Page before levelling the match with a run of 111.
Selby, who is aiming to capture his 25th ranking title, took frame seven only for Page to knock in his fourth half century of the match to ensure it went the distance before the Englishman sealed his success.
China’s Zhou Yuelong awaits Selby in the last four after he battled back from 4-2 down to beat 2023 world champion Luca Brecel 5-4.
Breaks of 94 and 113 enabled Zhou to get back to 4-4 before he edged a tense 52-minute ninth frame after Brecel left him a routine black to the yellow pocket.
Meanwhile, former Crucible finalist Jak Jones completed a 5-2 triumph over Aaron Hill, while Elliot Slessor established a 4-0 lead over Mark Allen, before the Northern Irishman rallied.
England’s Slessor looked on course to complete a 5-0 whitewash but missed a difficult black off its spot as Allen got a frame on the board with a 55.
Another missed black to the same corner pocket cost Slessor the sixth frame in a match that went on late into Friday evening.
Maybe it was the reset for Slessor, who gets to 19 points in this break without much concern.
Elliot Slessor 4-4 Mark Allen
We’re headed for a decider!
And if you’ve been here for the last couple of hours, that absolutely won’t surprise you.
Slessor pots the pink before the pair have a couple of shots at putting the black safe.
That was, until Slessor leaves Allen the straightest pot he could hope for into the yellow pocket which he smashes away.
Only one winner from here but hopefully, for Slessor’s sake, the fact it’s a one-frame shoot-out will reset him. As the last hour and a bit has been pretty desperate to say the least.
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (46-59)
Oooooh, Allen misses the pink for the frame!
A routine pot too and the pink bounces away to safety and he takes a 13-point lead with 13 on the table!
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (46-0)
It WAS the big opportunity and again it goes begging for Elliot Slessor.
It’s actually getting tough to watch now as we tick into Saturday morning.
Mark Allen returns to the table once more.
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (33-0)
The Slessor break continues as he takes his time over each shot knowing this is his opportunity.
