Barry Hawkins

Infobox Snooker player
Name = Barry Hawkins


Image size =
Caption =
Born = Birth date and age|1979|4|23|df=y
Birthplace = Kent
Nationality = Flag|England|English
Nickname = HawkeyeFact|date=May 2007
Professional = 1996–
High ranking = #12 (2006/2007)
Current rank = #26
Prize money = GB£223,800 (up to start of 2006/7 season)
High break = 145 (2005 Grand Prix)
Ranking wins =
Other wins = 1
World champ =

Barry Hawkins (born 23 April 1979, Kent, England) is an English professional snooker player.

Career

Before taking up snooker professionally he was an office clerk.

He reached the Top 32 in the rankings in 2004/2005, having reached the semi-finals of 2005's Welsh Open, as well as the last sixteen of three other tournaments.

In 2005/2006, he reached the semi-finals of the Grand Prix [http://www.snooker.org/trn/0506/gp2005_res.shtml] and the Welsh Open again, and also beat the high-ranked Ding Junhui to qualify for the World Championship for the first time [http://superengland.com/sport/content/view/287/38/] . This cemented Hawkins' place in the Top 16 of the rankings for the 2006/2007 season.

At the World Championship in Sheffield, however, Barry faced former Champion Ken Doherty in the first round, and in the intimidating Crucible Theatre lost 10-1. He told the BBC that "I just couldn't perform and I don't know why... I'm gutted after such a good season to have performed like that." [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060418/ai_n16160715]

The 2006/2007 season saw Hawkins disappointed following two strong seasons. He reached the final of the non-ranking Kilkenny Irish Masters [http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/snooker/tm_headline=rocket-cruises-in-as-hawkins-wilts&method=full&objectid=18740533&siteid=89520-name_page.html] , however his only run past the last 16 in a ranking event was at the China Open, when he reached the semi-finals, again beating Ding along the way. A first-round defeat to Fergal O'Brien at the World Championship [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6581657.stm] cost him his Top 16 place, and left him outside the Top 32 on the single-year rankings.

Early in the 2007/2008 season, Hawkins won the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Masters, beating Kurt Maflin [http://www.worldsnooker.com/tournament_news(id18899)-91.htm] . He won five other matches, also beating top-32 players Nigel Bond and Jamie Cope. He also reached the last 16 at the Grand Prix [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2690003.ece] , UK Championship and China Open.

So far, Hawkins's record at the World Championship has been relatively miserable. As well as the aforementioned one-sided defeat to Doherty, Hawkins lost in the first round the following two years as well, to O'Brien and Ali Carter respectively. On both occasions, Barry was defeated 10-9 having recovered from 9-6 behind. It means that he has a win/loss record at the Crucible of 0-3.

He started the new season with a quarter-final appearance at the 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy, by beating Jimmy White 5-3, Marco Fu 5-2 and Ryan Day 5-3 where he played Ronnie O'Sullivan, losing 5-4 after producing a brave fightback from 4-1 to level at 4-4.

Although Hawkins plays left-handed, he plays shots requiring a Cuegloss|Rest|rest with his right hand, and is actually right-handed outside of snooker.

Tournament wins

Non ranking

*Benson & Hedges Championship 2007

References