December 1st 2024.
Barry Hawkins has secured his spot in the UK Championship final, and he can't wait to face off against Judd Trump. After a tough and lengthy match against Mark Allen on Saturday night, the Hawk is expecting a more open and free-flowing game against Trump. The Pistol's slow pace of play was noted by commentators, with some speculating that it was a tactic to frustrate his opponent. However, Hawkins dismissed this and believes that Allen was simply struggling with his game.
The 45-year-old described the match against Allen as grueling and noted that it was not a pretty one to watch. Although he managed to level the score at 5-5 with one good frame, he found the entire game to be a battle and is completely drained. But Hawkins never gave up and kept pushing through, trying not to beat himself up even when he was scoring poorly and missing shots. He is thrilled to have made it through and is looking forward to the final against Trump.
Reflecting on his journey to the final, Hawkins acknowledges that it has not been an easy one. He has had to beat some incredible players including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Dave Gilbert, Shaun Murphy, and Mark Allen. He is proud to have made it to another Triple Crown final and is excited to face Trump, who he considers to be an all-time great.
Meanwhile, Allen admits that he did not play well and got what he deserved in the end. Despite having many chances, he failed to capitalize on them and credits Hawkins for being the better player. He believes that his grit and determination were the only things that kept him in the game, but ultimately, the right person won.
Trump, who is the world number one, goes into the final as the favorite. He has his eyes set on winning his second UK Championship title and has had an impressive journey to the final. In his last match against Kyren Wilson, he comfortably won 6-2, and in his previous match against Zhang Anda, he put on a stunning display with breaks of 89, 126, 120, 131, 61, and 120. Trump describes this as his best performance of the season and is happy to have produced it in such a big event.
While Trump holds a winning record over Hawkins in major events, the Hawk has had some significant victories over the Ace in the past. This includes two Masters semi-finals and last year's European Masters final. Both players are eager to take on each other in what is expected to be an exciting and highly-anticipated final at the Barbican.
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