Chris Ryder raised hopes of the first home winner of the London Open for three years after reaching the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its fifth year at Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club in the England capital.
The second seed from Leamington Spa will face unseeded Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi.
Ryder, the 32-year-old world No48, ended the impressive run of Pakistan qualifier Nasir Iqbal when he beat the 18-year-old from Peshawar 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9.
Ryder is celebrating his 17th PSA Tour final since 2001 - but his first for more than a year.
Fast-rising Ali Fathi, a 19-year-old from Cairo who is based in the UK and coached by former England international Phil Whitlock, continued his impressive run by beating England's Eddie Charlton 11-3, 11-4, 11-3.
The Egyptian teenager, ranked 70 in the world, is marking his seventh Tour final - and sixth of the year!
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 London Open, London, England
Semi-finals:
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
[2] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt [Q] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9
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