Masters snooker: Judd Trump's shoes cause a problem but he beats Barry Hawkins
Judd Trump needed a change of shoes to bring him back from the brink of a shock Masters exit to beat Barry Hawkins 6-5.
Last Updated: 15/01/13 10:58pm
Hawkins stood on the brink of a big upset as he won three frames on the bounce to go 5-3 up as Trump slipped, literally, behind due to his extravagant Christian Louboutin shoes that he sported for the match.
The talented left-hander changed out of his 'Roolerboy Spikes' footwear and hit back with a 105 break before Hawkins missed some easy pots in the 10th frame to send the match to a decider.
The Bristolian then rattled off a brilliant break of 107 in the final frame to claim a 6-5 victory and set up a quarter-final meeting with Scotland's Graeme Dott.
The 23-year-old was relieved to get through, but despite admitting his shoes were a problem on the Alexandra Palace carpet, he said he would be rolling them out again.
"I thought it was time for a change. I've had my other ones for a long time," said Trump. "I went out for the first two frames and tried them on and I was sliding around out there and had to take them off.
"I was all right in the practice room but as soon as I went out there I just started sliding around. We're going to have to make a few adjustments so I can wear them. It's just a little bit different, I like to stand out now and again."
While Trump looks forward to his last-eight showdown with Dott, Hawkins was left to pick up the pieces after seeing victory slip through his fingers.
"I'm devastated, I had the match in my hands and I just handed it to him," Hawkins said. "At the moment I feel like I can't take any positives. My head's spinning. I'm a bit gutted at the moment.
"I let him off the hook. He played well in the end and when you don't take your chances you get punished and that's what happened to me."
Trump, a semi-finalist in the event 12 months ago, is fancied to go all the way but he thinks that Scotland's John Higgins is the man to beat in this year's Masters.
"I still don't see myself as the favourite. Every tournament I play in I see John Higgins as the favourite. I think John Higgins is proven and I've still only won three tournaments," he said.
"I think people get a little bit carried away and then other people kind of knock down what I've done, I'm still young and won three tournaments already.
"I go into every tournament full of confidence but I've still got a lot to learn and I'm still learning today."
