Mark Selby knocked in a quality 147 break but it was Neil Robertson who edged their Champion of Champions clash 4-3.
Selby's maximum came in the second frame, Robertson having won the first, and the Leicester man banged in another century to draw level at 2-2.
When he took the next to move in front for the first time it appeared as though he'd be progressing to this evening's group decider, but Robertson rallied with a break of 72 before taking a tight deciding frame.
It's the second time in seven days that the Australian has fought back to beat his good friend Selby, having rallied to win at the International Championship last week.
Robertson will face Mark Allen for a semi-final place, after the Northern Irishman beat Barry Hawkins 4-2.
Allen registered breaks of 140, 102, 86 and 76 in a high-class game in which each frame produced a break of 75-plus.
On the other side of the draw, Ronnie O'Sullivan will face defending champion Shaun Murphy in Friday's first semi-final with Kyren Wilson awaiting either Robertson or Allen.
Results and schedule
- During the group stage, there are two 'semi-finals' over best of seven legs in the afternoon; the two winners then play for a semi-final place over best of 11 in the evening
Monday November 5
- Shaun Murphy 4-2 Jimmy Robertson
- Ding Junhui 4-2 Michael Georgiou
- Shaun Murphy 6-3 Ding Junhui
Tuesday November 6
- John Higgins 4-3 Ryan Day
- Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Stuart Bingham
- John Higgins 3-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Wednesday November 7
- Mark Williams 1-4 Kyren Wilson
- Judd Trump 4-1 Luca Brecel
- Kyren Wilson 6-1 Judd Trump
Thursday November 8
- Mark Selby 3-4 Neil Robertson
- Barry Hawkins 2-4 Mark Allen
- Mark Allen 6-1 Neil Robertson
Friday November 9
- Ronnie O'Sullivan v Shaun Murphy
Saturday November 10
- Semi-final 2 (best of 11)
Sunday November 11
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