Neil Robertson led Pang Junxu three times in the quarter-final clash at the Northern Ireland Open, but he could not shake off the Chinese player, who moved into the semi-finals with another colossal scalp.
Pang, who has already beaten another former world champion in Luca Brecel this week, came from behind to clinch the decider and move into the last four with a 5-4 victory.
After his English Open triumph, Robertson’s hopes of completing the Home Nations set of tournaments have come to an end.
Pang will face another former world champion, Mark Williams, or the current world champion Kyren Wilson for a place in the final.
The 24-year-old took the opening frame after some nervy play from both players, potting a long red after a sprightly start had put Robertson on the back foot.
The Australian made a concerning start to the second when he missed a routine black, but he recovered superbly by producing a brilliant 105 clearance to draw level in style.
‘Cool, calm, composed!’ – Pang eliminates Robertson with ‘brilliant’ century
Robertson had his eye in as he took control of the following frame early, eventually holding off a resurgent Pang thanks to an excellent pot on brown, but the Chinese player drew level again ahead of the mid-session interval with his best break so far, a fine 87.
Robertson responded with a superb 85 clearance of his own after the break when a Pang plant went wrong, edging the former world champion back in front in what was turning out to be a tight and unpredictable contest.
Pang provided some tricky puzzles for Robertson to wriggle out of early in the sixth frame, before both players squandered opportunities to take charge. The Chinese player eventually got the job done to level things up once more at 3-3, continuing the theme of neither player being able to establish a two-frame lead.
Nerves continued to show from Robertson when he missed a simple red early in the following frame, but Pang couldn’t take advantage and the Australian showed his class by making sure he would edge back in front with some superb shot-making on a run of 52.
‘Showing his mettle’ – Robertson pounces on Pang miss to steal crucial frame and move ahead
Pang missed a long but very sinkable red – almost hanging over the pocket – at the beginning of the eighth frame when he rattled the jaws of the top right, which gave Robertson a way in. He put 40 points together but then found himself in a predicament as he attempted to escape a snooker Pang had left him in.
Tucked up behind the yellow on its spot, Robertson was looking to get the cue ball back up the table without leaving one on and, on his fourth attempt, nailed the escape. This led to a period of safety play, but Pang was back in the frame and he made the most of his chance to take the match to a decider after an impressive 85 clearance.
The in-form player took the momentum into the deciding frame, where he drilled home an impressive 129 break – his third century of the week – to book his spot in the last four.