JOHN PARROTT stayed on course for a third European Open title with a 5-1 quarter-final victory over Dave Harold at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta last night.

Parrott, champion in 1989 and 990, will play Northern Ireland's Joe Swail for a place in Sunday's 7-frame final.

"I must now have as good a chance as anyone else of winning this event again," said Parrott, at number four in the world the highest-ranked player left in the tournament.

Harold, slowly making up the lost ground after dropping out of the top 16 on the provisional ranking lists. said: "The score did flatter John a little.