Snooker: Favourites O'sullivan and Higgins Bundled Out

Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins were widely expected to contest tomorrow's Royal London Grand Prix final but neither will even feature in today's semi-finals.

Neil Robertson, a 24-year-old Australian who had lost his five previous world-ranking quarter-finals, reached his first semi-final in style with an emphatic 5-1 win over O'Sullivan, and Mark King, the world No29, was a surprise 5-2 winner over Higgins.

"You have to give the geezer credit. He hardly missed a ball and when he did I didn't punish him. He was on fire and against someone like that you can't turn up with your B game" said O'Sullivan.

"That wasn't too far off my very best," said Robertson. "I've scored more heavily and played more explosively, but to do that against Ronnie on a big stage has to make it my best-ever performance."

The only features in the opening frame were 31 and 32 breaks by Robertson, who was to benefit from a fluked double of the yellow which left him perfectly on the green as he led 2-0. With 69, O'Sullivan accounted for the third and also led in the fourth before misjudging a safety. He did not score again in the entire match.

Robertson, an outstanding potter, has been threatening a breakthrough for two or three seasons. The 2003 World Under-21 champion, he has worked his way to 13th in the world rankings through practising six hours a day, six days a week. This afternoon Robertson will face Alan McManus, the last Scot in contention, who prevailed 5-3 against the world No24, Ian McCulloch.

King will meet an even newer face in the other semi-final in Jamie Cope, a 21-year-old qualifier from Stoke who has already doubled his career earnings this week. To the £20,000 bonus for his 147 in the round-robin stage and the £4,000 highest-break prize he can now add at least £15,000 through beating the experienced Joe Perry 5-4 on the final pink.

There are many talented young players but Cope, with his flair and fearless potting, may have the X factor. His unique claim to fame is that he is the only player in a witnessed practice frame to make a 155 break, a feat made possible by means of a free ball with all 15 reds remaining. He has also made a 151 and 108 147s.