Heavy defeat for Higgins

SCOTTISH hopes in the World Open were extinguished at the quarter-final stage in China yesterday as John Higgins and Anthony McGill both crashed out. Ali Carter reached his first ranking-event semi-final in more than two years with a 5-0 whitewash of Higgins (right) in Yushan. Breaks of 101, 51 and 98 put the 37-yearold, who has dropped to 31 in the world rankings, three up and he potted a re-spotted black for 4-0 before sealing victory in the next frame. The Englishman will now face Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the last four today after the Thai player’s 5-2 victory over McGill — who only recently won the Indian Open. The 25-yearold from Glasgow went into a 2-1 lead but was unable to respond after Un-Nooh’s break of 123 put him 4-2 ahead. The other semi-final will be contested by Australian Neil Robertson and England’s Joe Perry. Robertson defeated David Gilbert 5-2 despite looking short of form and 41-yearold Perry got the better of defending champion Shaun Murphy by the same scoreline.