World number one Judd Trump beat fellow Englishman Shaun Murphy in a final-frame decider to secure a 10-9 victory and reach the Tour Championship semi-finals.
Murphy won the first two frames with breaks of 72 and 59 but what followed was a gruelling, tight encounter in Manchester, with neither being able to pull clear once Trump made it 2-2 with a stunning 140 clearance.
Murphy managed breaks of 132 and 71, but the first session ended 4-4 after Trump won a scrappy frame decided by late errors from his opponent.
Trump said he played better after the interval but added that “there were times in the match where I thought it was getting away from me”.
Leading 8-7, Murphy missed the black and gave Trump the chance to get back into it as he cleared 90.
Trump then cleared 137 to take the lead after his opponent failed to pot an early red, but he failed to seal the match at the first time of asking as Murphy grabbed the 18th frame with a break of 96.
Trump made mistakes in the 19th frame but was not punished for them as he booked his place in the semi-finals, which take place on Friday.
“In my most successful seasons I have won nearly all of my deciding frames and that can give you a lifeline in tournaments,” Trump said.
“I have been consistent this season but it could have been a lot better. It’s difficult when you keep going back to your hotel room after a tough loss so it’s nice to get one finally.”
In Wednesday’s other quarter-finals, England’s Chris Wakelin trails Zhao Xintong 5-3 and Australia’s Neil Robertson leads Englishman Barry Hawkins 5-3, with both concluding on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, England’s Mark Selby plays Scotland’s John Higgins for a place in the semi-finals.