Classy Robertson sees off Higginson

Ronnie O'Sullivan progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Open in Glasgow after beating Stephen Hendry 3-1 in the fifth round.

The Englishman opened with a break of 93 in the opening frame before Hendry levelled with a 95.

O'Sullivan took a scrappy third frame and controlled the fourth after a Hendry mistake from the break-off.

World champion Neil Robertson also advanced to the last eight after beating Andrew Higginson 3-2.

He will next face Ricky Walden, while O'Sullivan will meet Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals after the Scot easily despatched compatriot Alan McManus 3-0.

Mark Williams will be up against Ding Junhui for a semi-final berth and Peter Ebdon faces Martin Gould, a 3-0 winner over Stephen Lee.

In the most eagerly awaited match of the tournament so far, it took seven minutes for the first ball to be potted as O'Sullivan and Hendry took a while to settle, but a mistake by seven-times world champion Hendry allowed O'Sullivan to clean up and take an early lead.

The roles were reversed in the second when O'Sullivan missed a long red to allow Hendry back to the table and the Scotsman drew level.

Both players missed routine reds in an untidy third frame, which O'Sullivan eventually won, and with victory in his sights he was soon 66-0 up in frame four after Hendry's initial error when he ran into the blue from the break-off.

Hendry could only put 23 on the board before another error allowed O'Sullivan back in to complete the match.

O'Sullivan admitted some of his play was careless, saying: "Stephen of old would have trounced me today. I'm just hacking around a bit. Stephen in his prime would have won the third frame, won the fourth frame, won the fifth frame."

The Englishman's last major title came in Shanghai last September and he is keen to end his drought this weekend.

606: DEBATE I think this has been one of the most refreshing tournaments I've seen in a long time. thetubberlad

But having made a maximum break in his first match against Mark King, and then knocked out Jimmy White and Hendry, the 34-year-old suggested it could be difficult to stay focused.

"You make a 147, play Jimmy White, play Stephen Hendry, it's over isn't it?" he said.

"I'm going to try to win it but I've played two of the greatest players to have ever played the game. They were easy to get up for, those matches, but against other players I might struggle a bit. I've got to play better than that anyway to win it."

Walden produced some excellent potting to beat Jamie Cope 3-1 in their fifth-round clash.

The Chester player opened with a break of 58 to win the first frame and led 47-0 in the next before Stoke's Cope hit back to win it with a 36 clearance.

A superb run of 98 saw 2008 Shanghai Masters champion Walden regain the lead, and he settled the tie in the next with a smooth 53 clearance.

A year ago in Glasgow, Walden suffered a cruel 5-4 defeat by Mark King despite having led by 31 points with only 22 remaining in the deciding frame.

"It took a while to get over that, it was a kick in the teeth," he admitted. "But you've got to stay in there and keep battling and I'm doing that now.

"I've proved to everyone, including myself, that I can win a tournament and I hope I will win more. I know my game is good enough, the only thing I doubt is my concentration. Playing on one table in front of a big crowd suits me, I showed that in Shanghai."

In the last match of the afternoon session, Maguire comfortably beat an out-of-sorts McManus 3-0.

Maguire saved his best for last against an opponent whose highest break in the match was 13, sealing victory with a run of 77.

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