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Stephen Maguire reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open with a solid display to see off Mark Williams with a 5-1 victory in Newport.

Maguire scored heavily when in amongst the balls and hit five breaks over 60 to tame the Welshman and subdue the vocal home crowd.

The Scot got off to a dream start and continued the order of the day with a missed maximum opportunity: Ronnie O'Sullivan narrowly missed out with two attempts during the afternoon's play.

Maguire reached 65 with all blacks but wisely turned down a difficult 11th for safety after running out of position with the frame not yet won.

That break was enough to take the first frame though before Williams bounced back to take the next with runs of 40 and 42.

Another good break of 69 gave Maguire frame three and the world number two kept the local favourite in his chair in the next with an 88 to lead 3-1 at the interval.

The 28-year-old Glaswegian maintained his heavy scoring after the intermission and a 66 kept up the pressure on the two-times world champion.

That pressure told in the final frame as Williams missed one of his trademark long pots and Maguire stepped in with an accomplished 67 to seal victory.

Maguire will next meet Ali Carter who killed off Welsh hopes of a home victory with a 5-2 defeat of Ryan Day.

Carter made a solid start as a break of 69 gave him the opening frame.

The second frame also went the way of the Englishman despite needing a number of chances as Day struggled to find his potting range.

Carter kept the home crowd quiet with an 81 to extend his lead to three frames and a 42 contributed to taking the last frame of the session as the Welsh number one missed a chance to steal.

Day knocked in a confidence-boosting 61 to avoid the dreaded whitewash and took a see-saw sixth frame as Carter faltered approaching the finish line.

The defending champion seized control in the next though and a break of 65 saw him over the line.

Welsh Open:

Friday's second session from 7pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) and Eurosport Player.

Saturday 1.30pm LIVE on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin 525) and Eurosport Player.

Geraint Williams / Eurosport