The Camarthen-based 21-year-old overcame Harold 9-7 at Bournemouth to line up a title match with favourite John Higgins or Paul Hunter.

The last Welsh win at the championship was Doug Mountjoy's victory over Stephen Hendry in 1988.

Harold disappointed

Stevens, the world number 26, came back from 4-2 down to hand Harold only his fourth defeat in 19 matches during the 1998 season.

After pulling back to 4-4, Stevens took a 7-5 then 8-6 lead, only to let Harold back in to 8-7 and hand him a chance to level the match.

The 31-year-old from Staffordshire stretched to a 60-0 lead in the next frame, but played himself into a position where the only option was a safety shot.

Stevens did not look back and cleared up to win on the pink with 72.

Biggest payday

Harold was clearly not pleased at dropping his second ranking tournament semi-final, having been the nearly-man against David Gray in the Benson and Hedges Championship final in Novermber.

"I'd trade all these semi-finals and finals to win one of these events," he said, after collecting his £19,750 prize money.

Stevens will take home a minimum of £39,000, which will be double his biggest payday since becoming a professional in 1994.