Michael White apologised to his fans after crashing out of his Welsh Open quarter-final without winning a frame.

The world number 17 from Neath lost 5-0 to Mark Allen as Welsh competitive interest in the tournament at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena came to an end.

White had looked at the top of his game on Thursday when he beat defending champion John Higgins, but 24 hours later he was nowhere close to that kind of form – a turnaround he was unable to explain.

“I felt good going into the match but the second frame was massive. Mark needed a snooker, I’ve been unlucky to knock the pink in, and then he has cleared up,” said White.

“It’s disappointing because I had massive expectations and I’d like to apologise to everyone from Wales who came to support me tonight because I didn’t put up any sort of a fight.

“He was just too good for me tonight. It’s back to the practice table and I will be back next year.”

The defeat means the wait for a Welsh winner goes on as the last home triumph was earned by Mark Williams back in 1999.

Ronnie O’Sullivan continued his dazzling form by beating world number one Mark Selby 5-1 to reach the semi-finals.

O’Sullivan, who has won 21 of the 24 frames he has played in five matches this week, and made seven centuries, will meet Joe Perry or Ben Woollaston on Saturday evening for a place in the final.