Barry Hawkins overcomes Judd Trump to reach Masters final
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 16/01/16 10:48pm
Barry Hawkins progressed to his first Masters final as he produced a fine performance to secure a 6-4 win over Judd Trump at London's Alexandra Palace.
Trump, who on Friday had emerged victorious from a thrilling quarter-final clash against Neil Robertson having made the 2016 tournament's highest break of 140, was widely regarded as favourite for this contest.
But the 26-year-old world No 5 was stunned early on as Hawkins reeled off two centuries of his own - 130 and then 128 - to take the first two frames.
Trump rallied to bring things level at 2-2, and then, after his opponent regained the lead, made it 3-3 with a break of 103, before moving ahead for the first time at 4-3.
But Hawkins, the 2013 World Championship finalist who had never won a Masters match prior to this year, subsequently took the next three frames to seal the triumph, adding his third century break of the match with 100 in the middle of those.
The world No 8 will face Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sunday's final after he beat Stuart Bingham 6-3 on Saturday evening.
Having lost the opening frame, O'Sullivan put himself firmly in the driving seat by claiming the next five in a row, making a break of 121 along the way.
World No 2 Bingham, who had never won a Masters match prior to this year, subsequently rallied to make it 5-3.
But five-time world champion O'Sullivan then won a tight ninth to finish the job and advance to his 11th Masters final, where the world number six will be bidding for a sixth title.
Hawkins told BBC Sport: "He [Trump] was obviously favourite to beat me with the way he played on Friday, but I always know if you can take your practice game out there, you have a chance, and I managed to do that."
Asked where his form had come from, 36-year-old Hawkins said: "I don't know. It is probably a little bit similar to the Crucible [the World Championships, which he had never got beyond the second round of prior to 2013] - I won a game there and it settled me down.
"Perhaps that is what has happened here. I can't believe I am in the final now. I have a chance of winning it, and I am over the moon."
