Iron man Peter Ebdon dug deep into his resources to clinch a place in the Embassy World Championship final as he made a nerve-jangling recovery to defeat Matthew Stevens 17-16 at the Crucible Theatre.
A titanic struggle ended after a near four-hour session with Ebdon clinching a final spot against seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, who had disposed of Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-13 earlier in the day.
That will mean a re-match of the 1996 final in which Hendry triumphed 18-12 against the player from Wellingborough.
What Ebdon has left in terms of resources after such a marathon effort when he steps out into the arena tomorrow afternoon remains to be seen. But Ebdon showed once again that he is the modern-day equivalent of 1970s and 1980s star Cliff Thorburn, who was nicknamed 'The Grinder' for his never-say-die attitude.
He was facing a semi-final exit when he trailed 16-14 but pulled off a pressure clearance in frame 31 to keep his hopes alive and then stamped his authority on the final two frames.
It was hard not to feel sympathy for Stevens, who had been runner-up in 2000 and a beaten semi-finalist 12 months ago after the tragic death of his father and mentor Morrell.
Stevens seized the early initiative with a series of half-century breaks, with Ebdon as determined as ever but failing to take his opportunities and making too many errors. Stevens started with a break of 70 which proved sufficient to edge him ahead and he again looked in command in frame 26 after a run of 52 - but Ebdon has clawed his way back from unpromising positions on several occasions in this match.
A break of 29 brought him back in contention and he completed this particular fightback with a 33 in a frame where both players made several unforced errors.
Stevens was beginning to look the stronger of the two players and a run of 60 put the pressure on Ebdon. There were still sufficient points for him to steal the frame but he conceded after missing a crucial black.
Ebdon had the chance to draw level again in the final frame before the mid-session interval but after easing into a 42-25 lead he failed with an attempted cut red into the middle.
A relieved Stevens stepped in with a 44 clearance to the black to leave him firmly in the driving seat at two frames up with just five to play.
Ebdon may have been off his very best form but was refusing to throw in the towel and came out with an initial 49 after the resumption. Stevens still had the opportunity to strike again but broke down on 22 when failing to sink a pink and Ebdon polished off the frame.
A break of 76 in the next took Stevens to within one of the finishing line but those never-say-die qualities of Ebdon again came to the fore in the next. Stevens' 56 put him 61-28 ahead with one red remaining but Ebdon, knowing that a mistake would mean a certain exit from the competition, came up with a 34 clearance amidst immense concentration to keep his hopes alive.
He capitalised on that reprieve with a vengeance as a 138 clearance brought him back on level terms and also created history.
For it was the 60th century of the 2002 championships, beating the previous best of 59 achieved in 1998. But that would have been the last thing on Ebdon's mind with the match to be decided by a one frame shoot-out - and it was the Englishman who came up trumps with a 55 to leave Stevens needing two snookers.
Stevens played on but he had too much to do and it was Ebdon who stayed on course for another shot at his first world title.
