RESULTS: PSA International 25 Winnipeg Building & Decorating Ltd Manitoba Open, Winnipeg, Canada
Semi-finals:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [3] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (48m)
[4] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [2] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-6, 7-11, 13-11, 11-4 (70m)
US number one Julian Illingworth upset second-seeded Canadian Shahier Razik in the Winnipeg Building & Decorating Ltd Manitoba Open to earn a surprise place in the final of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club in Winnipeg, Canada.
The New Yorker, ranked 34 in the world, took the opening game - but the Canadian, ranked eight places higher, fought back to draw level, then opened up a 5-0 lead in the third before reaching game ball at 10-5.
But the record six-time US champion held his nerve to whittle down the lead to take the game into a tie-break - before clinching his own game ball at 12-11.
It was level to four-all in the fourth when 27-year-old Illingworth took complete charge to race through to his 11-6, 7-11, 13-11, 11-4 victory after 70 minutes - and reach his 14th Tour final.
In their first meeting for over four years, Illingworth will now face Englishman Adrian Grant.
The top seed from London maintained the upper hand throughout the other semi-final against Ryan Cuskelly, beating the third seed from Australia 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 in 48 minutes.
The 30-year-old left-hander, ranked 18 in the world, is celebrating his 26th appearance in a PSA World Tour final.