Rocket's streak over

O'Sullivan, winner of PTC 1, just survived a scare from Liam Highfield – beating the young Englishman 4-3 in the last 16 - but then lost to O'Brien by the same score despite being 3-1 up.

It was the first time that O'Sullivan has been beaten in 11 matches.

O'Brien will play a rejuvenated Judd Trump in the semi-finals. Trump's form has been a mixed bag since reaching the World Championship final, but he has impressed in Gloucester and beat Neil Robertson 4-3 in a cracking last 16 match.

Trump had a 141 in a contest that went to the final black and won when Robertson went in-off on that final ball.

The other semi-final is an all Chinese affair between Ding Junhui and Xiao Guodong. Ding beat Ryan Day 4-2 in his quarter-final thanks to sublime breaks of 79, 97 and 123, while Xiao eased past Rory McLeod 4-1.

Xiao Guodong 4-1 Rory McLeod

Ding Junhui 4-2 Ryan Day

Judd Trump 4-1 Yu Delu

Fergal O'Brien 4-3 Ronnie O'Sullivan

Xiao Guodong 4-1 Jamie Burnett

Rory McLeod 4-3 Jak Jones

Ryan Day 4-2 Dave Harold

Ding Junhui 4-3 Graeme Dott

Yu Delu 4-3 Adam Duffy

Judd Trump 4-3 Neil Robertson

Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-3 Liam Highfield

Fergal O'Brien 4-2 Allister Carter