Wu Yize's dramatic victory over Mark Allen late on Saturday evening means China have a World Championship finalist for the second successive year.
It also vindicates his decision to move to Sheffield as a 16-year-old to pursue his dream.
The 22-year-old, who initially lived in a windowless flat and slept on the same bed as his father after the move to the UK from his home city of Lanzhou, turned professional at 17 and is now just one win away from the sport's biggest prize.
Should he defeat Shaun Murphy in the best-of-35 frames showpiece match, he would become the second youngest player to win a world crown behind Stephen Hendry.
"I want to give my best efforts and everything I have got to try to win the World Championship," Wu told BBC Sport after defeating Northern Ireland's Allen.
"Shaun Murphy has been playing well throughout the tournament, he beat Zhao Xintong and he's been playing well in terms of scoring, so it's going to be a very tough match but I believe both players are going to give their best."
While the final pits two of the most attacking players in snooker against each other, it is also a contest between different generations.
Wu was only 18 months old when when Murphy won his only previous world title to date in 2005 - also as a 22-year-old.