Barry Hawkins insists his mind is now focused on snooker once again as he attempts to rescue a poor season at the UK Championship. Having reached the semi-finals of the World Championship in three of the past four years, the 38-year-old has proven himself to be one of the toughest players on the circuit and someone who is not afraid to mix it with the big boys.
However a march to the last eight at the Hong Kong Masters was the best that the Kent man has to show for his efforts this season. ‘The Hawk’ made it to round two at York’s Barbican with a 6-1 victory over Australia’s Kurt Dunham and will next take on England’s world number 79 Hammad Miah on Sunday night. Having won last season’s World Grand Prix, much was expected of Hawkins this year but he admits that events away from the baize have taken their toll. “My season has been pretty poor,” he told BBC Sport. “I have had a lot of stuff going on off the table that not a lot of people know about. My head wasn’t on snooker at all really.” The Ditton-born ace, who is priced at 33/1 to win the whole event, is 2/15 to take out Miah, with the 24-year-old Hertford man on offer at 9/2 to pull off a shock victory.
It has certainly been disappointing year for Hawkins, who has fallen to eighth in the world from a career-high of four back in July 2014, but he confessed to feeling in a good place to try and go deep in the prestigious tournament. “We are getting through that [problems] as a family now and are coming to terms with things, so I can focus on my snooker now,” he added. “I haven’t won many matches this season so am looking for a good run to get some confidence back.”
UK Championship odds available at Dafabet.