The world number 89 looked set to pull off an incredible upset, having never been to a ranking quarter-final before this week in Yushan.
The Englishman was 5-3 ahead and was on course to win the match there, before a typical dish of 72 from Higgins to keep his hopes alive.
The four-time world champion then took the match to a decider where the nerves were jangling for both men, with the vast experience gap eventually paying dividends for Higgins.
It was not light work for the Scot, who missed a simple red to middle at one stage, but things proved too much for Surety who could not capitalise.
The Wizard of Wishaw composed himself to make an impressive 72 and book his place in the final where he will play Joe O’Connor.
There will be painful disappointment for Surety as he narrowly missed out on the final, despite it being the best week of his career by far.
The 33-year-old could barely watch as Higgins made the match-winning break and looked devastated as the winning balls were potted.
In contrast, the 49-year-old clenched his fist as he sunk match ball, thrilled and relieved to get over the line and into the final, where he will bid for his first ranking title since 2021.
Asked if he had any words for Surety at the end, Higgins said: ‘No, you can’t, I couldn’t. There’s no words that’s going to be consoling at that time.
‘At the end of the tournament when he’s back home he’ll maybe take the positives but right now he’ll be pig sick, because he was by far the better player.
‘He had a few good chances at 5-3, 5-4 and then the last frame. I know how it feels. I’ve been on the receiving end the last few years of heart-breaking defeats so I sympathise with him, I really do. But I’m more than delighted to be through to the final.’
On his feelings as he potted the winning balls, Higgins said: ‘I was proud there, I was proud.
‘I missed the red when Zak missed his first chance. Obviously then Zak was feeling the pressure. I was proud because I potted a good red into the middle bag to start the break then held myself together. I’m proud of myself.’
Surety will next be back in action at the World Championship qualifiers in April in Sheffield, hoping to make his first appearance at the Crucible.
The £33,000 won this week in Yushan sees him climb to number 73 in the world rankings.
Meeting Higgins in the final is O’Connor after a brilliant run from the Leicester man so far in Yushan.
The 29-year-old has beaten the likes of Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and now Ali Carter to reach the showpiece.
His win over the Magician in the quarter-finals was as good a performance as we could see all season, and he followed that up impressively with a 6-3 win over the Captain on Friday.
He is into his second ranking final after a run to the 2022 Scottish Open showpiece, where he was beaten by Gary Wilson.
O’Connor has played the better stuff of the two finalists this week, but Higgins has 31 ranking titles on his CV to his opponent’s zero. Will form or experience win out on Saturday?
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