Defending champion John Higgins and former world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan have progressed to the semi-finals of the Regal Masters in Glasgow.

Local favourite Higgins saw off the challenge of old stager Jimmy White, while O'Sullivan resisted a mini fightback from Paul Hunter in Thursday's afternoon match.

Higgins won four frames in a row to clinch a 6-4 win, with a break of 133 marking the start of the Scot's comeback.

White had looked like upsetting the odds and the crowd when he too won four consecutive frames to establish a 4-2 lead, but had no answer to Higgins' hot streak.

O'Sullivan eventually came through 6-3 to set up a last-four clash with either Stephen Hendry or Peter Ebdon.

O'Sullivan led 3-0 with breaks of 58, 59 and 58 before Hunter began to turn the tide.

The Yorkshireman recorded breaks of 68 and 51 to reduce his arrears to 3-2, and he also trailed 4-3.

However, several missed reds proved vital in the next two frames and O'Sullivan recorded his first win of this year's �205,000 event.