Hawkins into Masters final after toppling Trump

Barry Hawkins upset the formbook to secure his first appearance in a Masters final with a 6-4 win over the in-form Judd Trump at London’s Alexandra Palace on Saturday.

Trump had been the favourite to win this all-English contest after his dramatic quarter-final victory over Australia’s Neil Robertson, a former Masters and world champion, which he clinched with a century break in a final-frame decider.

But Hawkins was far from overawed, compiling breaks of 130 and 128 to win the first two frames on Saturday.

Having levelled at 2-2 and then 3-3, Trump won the seventh frame to edge in front at 4-3 only for Hawkins, the 2013 World Championship runner-up, to then win three straight frames to book his place in the final.

Hawkins will now face the winner of Saturday’s second semi-final between Ronnie O’Sullivan, the man who beat him in the World Championship final two years ago, and reigning world champion Stuart Bingham

“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,” Hawkins, who before this year had never won a match at the Masters, told BBC Sport.

“I can’t believe I am in the final now. I have a chance of winning it, and I am over the moon.”

Source :AFP