‘Brutal match’ – Barry Hawkins keeps World Championship snooker dream alive despite ‘terrible standard’ win

Barry Hawkins reached the final round of World Championship qualifying with a 10-4 win over David Lilley, but was scathing about his performance at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The world No. 20 has been forced to qualify for the sport’s biggest event for the first time since 2012, a year before he reached the final against Ronnie O’Sullivan and performed admirably in an 18-13 defeat.

Hawkins has also contested four semi-finals at the Crucible in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, but admits he will struggle to reach the last 32 this year unless he finds some scoring form.

The former Masters finalist failed to make a break over 50 against former world seniors winner Lilley, who top scored in a turgid match with runs of 67 and 72.

Hawkins will meet world No. 52 Jak Jones, a 10-9 winner over former British Open semi-finalist Robbie Williams, in the final qualifying round on Tuesday.

“I’m just pleased to get through. It was a brutal match and each frame felt like it was well over 30 minutes,” said Hawkins, who is 15th on the all-time career century list with 424 since he first turned professional in 1996.

“It was a terrible standard and I didn’t expect to play as badly as that. I’m just delighted to get through the next round and I can improve.

“David said in the interval it couldn’t get any worse and he was right really.

“I started the season well and didn’t capitalise on the good form. I’ve been winning matches, but not going deep in tournaments.

“I haven’t earned enough ranking points and it is my own fault I am here. Other people have come here and had good runs at the Crucible, so who knows.

“Everybody wants to finish their season off at the Crucible, but it is all good and well qualifying, you want to go there and do well.

“Just winning one game here and getting bashed up at the Crucible is not what people want. I want to be part of it.”

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