Live

Repeat: OTB Breakfast

12:00 AM-02:00 AM

Repeat: OTB Breakfast
Advertisement
Golf

Barry Hawkins completes World Championship semi-final line-up

Barry Hawkins became the fourth and final player to reach the World Championship semi-finals, aft...



Barry Hawkins completes World...
Golf

Barry Hawkins completes World Championship semi-final line-up

Barry Hawkins became the fourth and final player to reach the World Championship semi-finals, after a 13-9 win over Stephen Maguire at The Crucible.

Hawkins, who has now reached the semi-final stages at The Crucible in four of the last five World Championships, will meet John Higgins in their semi-final.

The 38-year-old started  the final session with a 9-7 lead, but saw Maguire win the opening two frames of the evening session to draw level at 9-9.

Frame 19 saw the turning point in the match, when Hawkins fluked his opening red of the frame, before going on to clear the table. From there, he never looked back.

Hawkins went on to win the following three frames, to knock out Maguire, the last qualifier left in the tournament.

Speaking after the match to WorldSnooker.com, the 2013 runner-up said he was looking forward to returning to the one-table format, which is introduced at the semi-final stages. 

"When it goes to one table it just becomes a great arena, it feels like you’re miles away from the table. The atmosphere is unbelievable, when you get introduced out there there’s no better feeling. All the years growing up watching it on TV dreaming of playing in the one table set up, all of a sudden you’re walking out there."

Four of the World's top-eight will compete in the Semi-Finals, which begin on Thursday, and will last over three days. Reigning World Champion Mark Selby faces Ding Junhui in a repeat of last year's Final, while Hawkins will face four-time champion John Higgins.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.