Scotland's Graeme Dott completed an astonishing recovery in yesterday's opening semi-final of the Malta Cup. The world no.15 hit back from three frames down to beat compatriot John Higgins 6-5 in a three-and-half hour contest to book his place in today's best-of-17 final at the Hilton.

Dott, the 2004 world championship runner-up, looked down and out when he trailed Higgins 5-2. But the 27-year-old showed great fighting spirit as he somehow managed to find a way back into the match before winning the deciding frame to move one match away from landing his first ever ranking tournament title.

"I still cannot believe that I'm in the final," a delighted Dott told the media after the match.

"John played really well in the first session and I felt that it was going to be difficult for me to win this one. At 3-5 I was resigned to losing the semi-final when John had a chance to clear the table but missed a simple red.

"That got me back to the match and once I completed that clearance I knew I had enough confidence to win the match."

For Higgins, this defeat was the second consecutive one to Dott after the world championship last year. It was also the second time for the world no. 5 to lose a semi-final of a ranking event after enjoying a comfortable lead.

At the 2000 world championship in Sheffield he squandered a 15-11 advantage to lose 17-11 to Mark Williams.

"I'm really disappointed to go out in such a manner," said Higgins. "The match was well under my grasp. I had several chances to win it but I failed to take them. This is something that I'm not happy about it because it's not the first time.

"Still I don't want to take anything away from Graeme. He played really well in the deciding frames."

The match endured a nervous start with both players missing comfortable shots until Higgins regrouped himself to take an early advantage. That seemed to set Higgins' engine on as he delighted the crowd with an extraordinary break of 141 - the highest of the tournament. He then followed it up with another century, a 117, to move 3-0 up.

Dott was finally off the mark in the fourth frame even though he broke down on 40. Higgins tried a fightback but he failed to get the snooker he required and instead it was Dott who potted a decisive pink - 3-1.

When play resumed, Higgins looked a different player. Still, Dott was clearly not as his best. In the fifth frame a poor defensive shot on the yellow proved costly as Higgins cleared all colours to move three frames up.

In the next frame, Dott played better and when Higgins was let down by his cueball positioning, he profited to pull one back at 2-4.

Dott then started a good run in the following frame but he broke down on 47 when he missed a red on the bottom left pocket. This time he was punished by Higgins who fired an 83 clearance to move one frame away from victory - 5-2.

It was here that Dott started a stirring fightback when winning the eighth frame. Higgins then opened a 57-1 lead but missed a red near the cushion. Dott took his chances well to finish the frame just one point better off than Higgins 58-57.

There was more drama in store when Dott took the match to a decider when winning the tenth frame 104-0.

As expected, the contest turned out to be a battle of nerves. The slightest mistake from any of the two players could hand success to their opponent.

It was Higgins who cracked under the pressure when he missed a red in the centre pocket. Dott potted a 59 but missed a black. Higgins tried to get back into contention but Dott held on for a famous win.

Other semi-final: Hendry beat Stevens 6-3.