World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan breezed into the quarterfinals of Welsh Open Snooker by sweeping qualifier Jamie Cope 5-0 in Welsh on Thursday.

The three times world champion O'Sullivan only needed 55 minutes to wrap up the victory as his opponent Cope missed easy balls one after another to give him enough chances to collect the points.

"That's the worst I've seen him play," O'Sullivan said. "I never look forward to playing him but today he barely potted a ball."

Cope, a two-time ranking event finalist, played quite well on Wednesday, giving Chinese ace Ding Junhui a blow of first round exit. However, the world number 18 seemed losing his sharpness over night, surrendering quickly to the two time Welsh Open title winner.

O'Sullivan is going to meet Mark Allen on Friday, who defeated qualifier Matthew Stevens 5-2.

Stevens finished two centuries during the encounter, but Allen managed to grab the victory with better safety.

Besides, world number two Stephen Maguire confirmed his place in the quarterfinals with a 5-1 win over Barry Hawkins. He will fight for a semifinal berth with Mark Williams as the Welsh claimed a 5-0 victory over Andrew Higginson.

Newly crowned Wembley Master champion Mark Selby booked a duel with defending world champion John Higgins after beating Mark King 5-3. Higgins went through the second round by seeing off Graeme Dott, Scotland 5-1.