Barry Hawkins returns to world top 16 after European Masters snooker win, Ronnie O'Sullivan at No. 1 – 'Massive relief'

ByEurosport

Published 28/08/2023 at 08:00 GMT

Barry Hawkins claimed the fourth ranking title victory of his career with a 9-6 win over Judd Trump in the European Masters final on Sunday. The Kent man had lost finals at the Welsh Open, China Open, Players Championship and European Masters since his previous victory at the 2017 World Grand Prix. "It is massive elation and massive relief," said Hawkins after returning to the sport's top 16.

Hawkins celebrates his European Masters win over Trump

Barry Hawkins has returned to the world's top 16 after ending a six-year ranking title drought with victory in the European Masters final in the German city of Nuremberg on Sunday evening.

The 2013 world finalist held off Judd Trump with a 9-6 win for his first triumph since he claimed the 2017 World Grand Prix trophy with a 10-7 win over Ryan Day.

His success against Trump came a year after he lost 9-3 to Kyren Wilson in the 2022 European Masters final.

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Hawkins moves up six places in the world rankings from 19th to 13th in the provisional rankings after earning £80,000 from his emotional win at the Kia Metropol Arena live on Eurosport and discovery+.

“It is hard to describe the feeling," said Hawkins, who saw world No. 4 Trump recover from trailing 7-3 to 7-6 before steeling himself to see out the win by dominating the final two frames.

"It is massive elation and massive relief. I’ve finally won a tournament, but all of a sudden you come down again.

"It is back down to earth again now and onto the next one."

Did he mean it? Hawkins plays a cannon to pot a red off a red against Trump

Hawkins enjoyed wins over world champion Luca Brecel [5-4 in the last 16] and four-time world champion Mark Selby [6-4 in the semi-finals] in his run to a fourth ranking victory of his career.

“It is up there with, if not the best win of my career," the two-time Masters finalist told reporters after securing a first title success since the 2019 Paul Hunter Classic.

"All the great players were here this week and the match against Selby was such a feather in my cap.

"It was a high quality game and put me under so much pressure. I stood up to it and was really pleasing.”

Hawkins makes century break in second frame of European Masters semi-final against Selby

Elsewhere in the latest rankings, Ashley Carty moves up 13 places from 93rd to 80th after losing 5-1 to Trump in his first ranking event quarter-final appearance.

Snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan remains world No. 1 despite missing the season's second ranking event due to medical reasons.

World champion Luca Brecel had the opportunity to dislodge O'Sullivan from the summit with a run to the semi-finals, but a 5-4 loss to Hawkins in the last 16 dashed his hopes.

Hawkins missed an invite to the 24-player Shanghai Masters between 11-17 September in China after being outside the top 16 before the European Masters, but is set to avoid having to qualify for the Wuhan Open and English Opens which are due to begin in Leicester on Friday.