Welsh Open snooker: John Higgins beats Ronnie O'Sullivan
John Higgins knocked favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan out of the Welsh Open and thinks all of the semi-finalists will fancy their chances of success.
Four-time champion O'Sullivan stole the opening frame, only for Higgins to storm back with breaks of 113, 57, 60 and 101 to race into the semi-finals.
Higgins, who also boasts for Welsh Open titles, steps into the last four to face Gary Wilson, who saw off Yu Delu 5-2.
"I am delighted to win; it was a weird game," Higgins told Eurosport.
"I just felt Ronnie was not there at all.
"He missed a couple of balls and ran out of position; he never does that. It must have been a concentration thing.
"Me winning that match means everyone in the tournament feels they have a chance of winning the title.
"If O'Sullivan was in, people would say it is his to lose."
Earlier in the day Barry Hawkins saw off China's Yan Bingtao 5-1.
"I was pleased with the result and even more with the performance," Hawkins told worldsnooker.com.
"I made a good clearance to win the fourth frame and that was the big moment. I didn’t give Yan many chances.
"I am getting matches under my belt and playing more consistently now. Confidence is all it is. I have to stay focused now and keep playing like that.
"I have watched Noppon a few times, he has put in some great performances and beaten some good players. He is dangerous."
Hawkins' win booked a semi-final clash with Thailand's Noppon Saengkham, who defeated Ian Burns 5-3.
FRIDAY MARCH 2
Afternoon session
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 frames)
- Ian Burns 3-5 Noppon Saengkham (QF 2)
- Yan Bingtao 1-5 Barry Hawkins (QF 1)
Evening session
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 frames)
- Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-5 John Higgins (QF 3)
- Gary Wilson 5-2 Yu De Lu (QF 4)
SATURDAY MARCH 3
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
First round (Best of 7 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1/BBC Wales
- Barry Hawkins v Noppon Saengkham (SF 1)
Evening session (1900 GMT)
First round (Best of 7 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1/BBC Wales
- John Higgins v Gary Wilson (SF 2)