Kiwi Paul Coll has upset four-time defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt to reach the British Open squash final in London.
Coll, 29, defeated ElShorbagy in straight sets in the tournament semi-final, only the second NZ man to reach the British Open final, after Ross Norman in 1986.
Despite only previously defeating ElShorbagy once in his career, Coll came away with a straight-sets 11-8 11-7 11-5 victory, taking just over half an hour.
The third and final set saw Coll down 5-4, but he won the last seven points to complete a memorable upset.
"I knew I had to get my start right this time," Coll says. "The last three times, he's flogged me in the first set and it just hasn't been good enough for my standards.
"That's the kind of calibre player he is - he can take a game away from you in a matter of seconds.
"That's why I got so edgy in the last one, I knew he was trying to win quick points. With his skill and intensity, it can happen very quickly."
Coll will meet world champion Ali Farag of Egypt on Monday morning (NZ time) in the final, hoping to become the first Kiwi to win the British men's title. Norman lost the 1986 final to Pakistani Jahangir Khan, while Susan Devoy (8) and Leilani Joyce (2) have won the women's crown.
Coll has met Farag 14 times, winning just one, with 13 defeats.
