Neil Robertson beats Ronnie O'Sullivan before suffering World Grand Prix exit

But the 2010 world champion Robertson's success was short-lived as he lost 4-2 to Barry Hawkins later on Thursday night in the quarter-finals.

Hawkins won the first three out of four frames against Robertson, opening with an 81 only to see the Australian piece together 70 to level at 1-1.

Robertson hauled himself back to trail 3-2 behind with a 51 before Hawkins sealed his progress to another last four berth with a closing 85.

Hawkins progresses to a meeting with English Open champion Liang Wenbo, who completed a thrilling 4-3 win over Masters finalist Joe Perry in the night's other quarter-final.

Wenbo enjoyed runs of 52, 109 and 129 with Perry producing 72 and 122 only to come up just short.

Robertson raced into a 2-0 lead following two half-century breaks of 80 and 70 against O'Sullivan with the five-times world champion rarely getting a chance to leave his seat.

Robertson nudged himself into a 3-0 lead thanks to a score of 43 to finish the third frame.

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A tactical battle ensued with the remaining pink and black in the fourth frame, O'Sullivan eventually prevailing to earn a lifeline, but Robertson rattled off an 83 break in the next to reach the last eight.

World number four Judd Trump fell at the second hurdle following a 4-1 defeat to Barry Hawkins, who will play Robertson for a place in the semi-finals.

Hawkins opened the match by taking the first frame courtesy of a break of 64, and followed that up with a run of 86 in the next before Trump replied with the only century break of the match - a clearance of 107 - to reduce the scores to 2-1.

But the Ditton potter responded with another two half-century breaks of 73 and 72 to secure his place in the quarter-finals of a ranking event for a second successive time.

Second Round (Best of 7 frames)

Martin Gould 3-4 Joe Perry

Mark Allen 3-4 Liang

Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-4 Neil Robertson

Barry Hawkins 4-1 Judd Trump

Joe Perry 3-4 Liang Wenbo

Neil Robertson 2-4 Barry Hawkins

1pm

Mark King v Marco Fu

Ryan Day v Shaun Murphy

7pm

Liang Wenbo v Barry Hawkins

7pm

King/Fu v Day/Murphy

1pm and 7pm