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John Higgins remains on course to defend his Grand Prix title following a 5-1 win over Mark Allen in the quarter-finals.

Neil Robertson joined The Wizard of Wishaw in the semi-finals in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall after overcoming Joe Perry by the same scoreline.

Higgins was in fine form during his win over Ronnie O'Sullivan and he carried on in the same vein with a 66 break in the opening frame.

Breaks of 46 and 44 secured the second and an error from Allen in frame three was severely punished as Higgins knocked in a superb 72.

Allen showed tremendous resolve to take frame four with a brave clearance of the colours and he looked set to take frame five having compiled a superb 73 break.

A red with the rest was frame ball, but he left the ball in the jaws and Higgins put him in trouble. The defending champion got the snooker he needed and duly cleared up to hammer a nail into Allen's coffin.

The writing was on the wall for Allen and Higgins was quick to put him out of his misery, as a break of 96 secured his passage into the last four.

Robertson recovered from losing the first frame to his close friend Perry to secure a 5-1 win.

Perry made an excellent start, as breaks of 60 and 37 earned him the opening frame.

The pair know each other's games inside out as they are regular practice partners and Robertson hit back to level the contest.

Robertson produced some glorious play in the third frame, as a century with the balls not ideally placed demonstrated the Australian's class.

Perry had a chance in frame four, but broke down and Robertson needed no second invitation - a 67 break securing him the frame.

A bitty fifth frame went Robertson's way but there was nothing scrappy about the sixth frame, as the Australian knocked in a superb 103 break - his second century of the match - to ease into the semi-finals.

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