Judd Trump set up a World Championship final rematch against John Higgins after completing a 17-11 victory over Wallsend qualifier Gary Wilson at The Crucible.
Trump was 21 when he lost his only previous final to Higgins in 2011 but the experienced Scot, who earlier edged David Gilbert in a final frame thriller, acknowledged he will be facing a different challenge.
Four-time winner Higgins said: "Judd is an unbelievable all-round player now, while when I played him in 2011 he was just crash, bang, wallop and normally they were going in.
"I'll be playing a different Judd Trump. The way he dismantled [Ronnie] O'Sullivan in the Masters has given him the confidence to come here as one of the favourites."
Resuming the evening session with a four-frame advantage, Trump wrapped up victory in style with breaks of 97 and 88 to end the colourful run of the former taxi driver and factory worker.
Along the way Trump wrote a new piece of Crucible history as his 114 break in the 20th frame represented the 87th century of the Championship – eclipsing the previous mark set in both 2015 and 2016.
🚨 RECORD BROKEN 🚨 That's century number 87 of the 2019 @Betfred World Championship, and there's still plenty snooker left to play! How many more are yet to come? #ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/U1kfCIDyoB — World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) May 4, 2019
Reflecting on his eight-year wait for a second Crucible final, Trump admitted: "I was playing with so much confidence back then that I certainly thought it would be a lot easier to get back.
"But I was so young I didn't know any better. You have to grow up in snooker and I think I'm a whole different player and you wouldn't recognise me now.
"It's important to get off to a good start against John and I'm under no illusions how hard it is to beat him. I'm probably going to have to go out and play the best I've ever played."
Earlier, Higgins continued a remarkable career revival by squeezing past Gilbert 17-16 just six months after threatening to quit the sport when he crashed out of the UK Championships.
The 43-year-old Scot hit a 139 total clearance to set up the one-frame shoot-out, then capitalised on a missed black by Gilbert to fire what would prove to be a match-winning 55 break.
Higgins, who had started the final session 13-11 down, admitted: "I was at a low ebb around Christmas – probably the lowest ebb I've ever been in playing the game.
Incredible. #ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/uuSICQWY4p — World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) May 4, 2019
"I can't really explain to be honest. I apologised to Dave – I told him I brought him down to my level in the first three sessions.
"I was really poor and I think Dave really let me off the hook. I was over the moon to be only 13-11 (on Friday night). I was feeling good but nothing was happening."
The Scot's dissatisfaction had again been plain to see in the second session on Friday which was classed by some snooker experts as one of the worst he has ever played.
Winning since '92 👊 #ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/dEAeZEkauN — World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) May 4, 2019
Indeed it was Higgins who was more pleased with the overnight scoreline and, despite Gilbert firing a 105 clearance in the opening session of the day, there was a hint of inevitability about the Higgins comeback.
Four frames in a row duly followed as Higgins grabbed the lead at 15-14 for the first time since the fifth frame, suggesting that he had repelled the challenge of the Tamworth player.
But Gilbert levelled with a 78 then went one frame from victory before Higgins drew on his vast reserves of experience, first with his stunning clearance then after a cagey safety battle which saw him over the line.
Tearful Gilbert, who had arrived at the tournament with few expectations but twice blew a five-frame advantage in the match, broke down in tears in the post-match press conference.
Gilbert said: "I'm absolutely gutted to lose. I could have got to a world final but I've got nothing to feel sad about. I came here with no expectations and to end up on the one table against a legend like John, it was an honour."
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