Ronnie marches on

The two-time world champion started his match in fine form, rattling in an 85 break only for the Lancastrian to level.

But a costly miss by McCulloch when 49-43 behind in frame three allowed O'Sullivan to clear and go 2-1 ahead before he produced an 109 break.

World number 26 McCulloch compiled a 49 break in frame five but then got a massive kick and lost position allowing the Rocket to bang in a 53 break and steal the frame.

The world number three then wrapped up the match to set up a meeting with Mark Selby.

Harold came from 4-1 down to take Ebdon to a deciding frame, battling from behind on a couple of occasions.

The world number seven was 30 down in that last showdown with only 25 left on the table when he tried a snooker on the green.

The cue ball settled perfectly behind the black, but Ebdon watched in disbelief as the green rolled up the table and into the top corner pocket.

That left 2002 world champion Ebdon with a tricky brown to hit. He clipped the pink first and immediately conceded the match to Harold, four years his senior at 41 years of age.

Anthony Hamilton won his first game of the season as he beat Joe Perry 5-4.

The world number 16 has dropped 21 places in the provisional rankings and his nerves must have been jangling after being pegged back from 3-1 ahead at the interval to 3-3.

Perry stole frame eight on the pink but the Nottingham cueman settled the match in emphatic fashion with an 119 break.

Stephen Hendry triumphed 5-2 against Ben Woollaston of Leicester to go through.

World champion Graeme Dott was made to sweat by the unfancied Gerard Greene, but eventually came through 5-3.