Chris Small reached his first major final at Preston Guild Hall today when he defeated Jimmy Michie 6-2 in the semi-final of the LG Cup.
The world number 29 from Leith was rated a 150/1 shot at the start of the week and needed a steroid injection just to play as he continues to battle a spine problem.
But he played superbly to beat former world champions John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach his first semi-final in four years before sweeping Yorkshireman Michie aside.
"I'm over the moon to finally make it through to a final," he said. "When I was a youngster I watched the snooker on television and thought how great it must be to play in a major final.
"Now I've done it at last and I'm determined to enjoy it. It's a dream come true and I can't wait."
Small easily won the first frame and added the second after Michie went for a risky pot on the pink and left the Scot a chance.
A break of 77 in the next made it 3-0 and Small also won the fourth to open a four-frame lead at the interval.
World number 55 Michie, who recovered from 4-1 down to beat Gerard Greene 5-4 in the quarter-finals, threatened a comeback by winning the next two frames but Small secured victory with runs of 36, 37, 43 and 39.