Home rule for O'Brien

Local favourite O'Brien may have dropped to 45 in the world rankings but he beat two top 16 players, Stephen Lee (4-2) and Neil Robertson (4-1), in the best-of-seven group stage to set up a quarter-final with compatriot Ken Doherty.

1998 world champion Higgins rebounded from a 4-2 defeat to Gerard Greene in his opening match to whitewash Dubliner Michael Judge 4-0 with breaks of 135, 73 and 56 and edge through to a last eight meeting with fellow Scot Graeme Dott.

Kent's Barry Hawkins is in danger of losing his spot in the world's top 16 but he won a final frame decider against Kilkenny's teenage sensation David Morris before beating fading favourite Jimmy White 4-2 and he will now face Stephen Hendry.

Joe Swail accounted for Matthew Stevens and Joe Delaney to set up a showdown with another Englishman Ronnie O'Sullivan at the inaugural £13,500 event at the Ormonde Hotel.