Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins will contest one of the semi-finals at the Welsh Open in Newport after respective wins over Mark Allen and Mark Selby.

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O'Sullivan was in inspired form as he beat Allen 5-2 while Selby, who was crowned Masters champion last week, also went down 5-2 against Scot Higgins.

The Rocket showed terrific break-building prowess with five frame-winning breaks that were marred only by him narrowly missing out with two maximum attempts.

Allen got off to a decent start by taking two of the first three frames with runs of 40 and 54 either side of an O'Sullivan break of 92. But it was all O'Sullivan after that as the world number one hit top form.

He looked on course for a 147 in frame four but missed a routine red to centre after 11 reds and blacks; O'Sullivan wrapped his knuckles across the table in annoyance, but that 88 made it 2-2 at the interval.

O'Sullivan, winner of the event in 2004 and 2005, asked what the prize money was for a maximum during the break and came out in determined fashion.

He was quick to despatch the reds with blacks in the next frame but missed the simplest of greens in trying to pinch the pocket, leaving the enthralled crowd frustrated once again - while this time O'Sullivan saw the funny side.

Allen gained some table-time early in frame six before O'Sullivan hit a 90 with 11 reds and blacks and the Englishman soon rounded off victory with a break of 50.

Higgins secured a semi spot as he made light work of Selby.

The Scot got off to a sound start by taking the first frame with a break of 89. Selby looked likely to draw level in the next but his 62 was cancelled out by a brilliant 67 clearance from Higgins to steal it.

The world champion extended his lead to three frames with a 64 before Selby managed to make his mark before the interval with runs of 33 and 47 for a 3-1 scoreline.

The Jester from Leicester let a 51-point lead slip in the fifth frame and failed to see the funny side as Higgins fluked the final pink to go 4-1 up.

An uncharacteristic poor safety from Higgins allowed the Masters champion to capitalise in reducing his deficit to two frames but a surprising miss to centre on 34 in the next allowed Higgins in to seal frame and match with a 43.

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.