Rocket is wiped out

JOHN HIGGINS whitewashed Ronnie O’Sullivan for the first time in 23 years in a major tournament last night.

The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ handed out a 5-0 drubbing to his long-time rival in the Scottish Open to surge into the semi-finals.

Higgins said: “He had beaten me four times this season. And you don’t want one guy doing that so it was good to stop the rot.”

And the four-time world champion, bidding for a 30th ranking title, was in unstoppable form against the Rocket, who turned pro the same year in 1992.

O’Sullivan had arrived as the man in form, having won three titles in the past two months. But Higgins knocked in breaks of 55, 109, 117, 105 and a brilliant closing 72 – and he will now play Australia’s Neil Robertson tonight for a place in tomorrow’s final.