Hendry has never been beaten by Dott

Hendry led 5-3 after the opening session but world champion Dott won the first four frames of the evening, rattling in breaks of 96, 92 and 85.

Hendry responded with a 111 clearance and a run of 50 saw him level at 7-7.

He then showed his vast experience to close out victory, a 93 break sealing his place in a record 10th UK final.

Interview: Stephen Hendry

Hendry said: "I'm so close to playing at my best - it's a pleasure to be competing again.

I'm just pleased my form's back Stephen Hendry

"Peter is playing fantastic snooker and is very hard to beat over a long match. But I'm just delighted to be in a final and have a chance of winning a tournament - I can't believe it.

"I lost 5-1 to Jimmy White and 5-1 to Steve Davis in the league a few weeks ago - I was just so bad.

"But I have worked a lot harder in the last two or three weeks in practice. It doesn't give you a divine right to win but it is good to know you are putting the work in."

It is 10 years since Hendry won his fifth UK title, and he would equal Steve Davis' record of six titles if he beats Ebdon.

But Hendry insisted: "It (the record) doesn't mean a monkeys to me at this point. I just want to get back to winning tournaments and am just pleased my form's back."

A break of 133 saw Hendry level at 2-2 early on and he won three of the next four frames to lead 5-3.

Dott's surge put him on the verge of his first ever victory over his fellow Scot in their 10th meeting, but Hendry proved his enduring class.

It will be his first final appearance since the China Open in April 2005, which he lost to Ding Junhui.

The last of Hendry's 36 ranking tournament victories came in the Malta Cup in February last year.