Gutted Barry Hawkins admits he lost in the worst way possible after going down 4-3 against Kyren Wilson in the last 16 of the Scottish Open, writes Will Jennings.
The Ditton potter was on the receiving end of a final frame fluke as Wilson, this summer’s World Championship finalist at the Crucible, marched into the quarter-finals.
World No.5 Wilson misjudged a plant in the seventh frame but flicked a red in to land on a colour and lay the foundations for a match-winning clearance.
Hawkins, ranked 18 places below Wilson, was beginning to find some form but rued his bad luck after missing out on a first ranking event quarter-final since the 2019 China Championship.
The 41-year-old said: “I’m gutted. It was a good game and it’s just not nice going out on a fluke. It’s never nice to lose, to be honest.
“He would have done well there to miss, and the balls were there perfectly. It was a bit gutting. Apart from the fluke he played very well – he didn’t miss anything and could have easily had four centuries there, and should have had a 147.
“It’s just not nice going out like that because I felt like I was starting to hit a little bit of form.
“I felt good in myself and like I could have scored when I got the chance. You never know now, but it’s just not nice going out like that.”
Hawkins took the lead with a first frame break of 64 before Wilson, a four-time ranking event winner, struck majestic back-to-back centuries – including a missed 147 opportunity – to edge in front.
Hawkins then made a fine 102 of his own before the pair exchanged the next two frames in a high-scoring encounter.
That teed up a grandstand finish but that fluke from Wilson laid the foundations for an 81 clearance and a quarter-final clash against Welsh player Jamie Jones.
“Hanging around in the players’ room is not ideal waiting for results to come in.”
Barry Hawkins emerged from a manic Monday at the Scottish Open https://t.co/AEID0PuFmJ
— KentOnline Sport (@KentOnlineSport) December 8, 2020
Hawkins has qualified for next week’s World Grand Prix and hopes to continue his momentum in the final event of the calendar year.
“I feel like I’m playing better, but beating Kyren would have been a good result today,” he added.
“He’s been in form lately and I’ve pushed him all the way there. It’s only best-of-seven and you can’t take too much from it, but he’s at the top of his game and he’s only just about beat me 4-3.
“There are positives to take.”
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