Mark Allen lauds Barry Hawkins after drubbing at 2023 Masters - 'I just got completely bashed up'
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Published 10/01/2023 at 17:58 GMT
There have been a number of shocks in the 2023 Masters so far, but Mark Allen losing 6-0 has to be up there with the most unexpected. It took a performance of rare quality from Barry Hawkins to knock out the 2022 UK Championship winner, and Allen admitted as much afterwards, calling Hawkins "phenomenal". Alan McManus, in the Eurosport studio, said Hawkins has "every facet of the game nailed down."
Allen showers praise on Hawkins after Masters whitewash - 'I just got completely bashed up'
Mark Allen lauded Barry Hawkins after the Northern Irishman went down to a 6-0 whitewash in the first round of the 2023 Masters, saying he got "bashed up" and that his opponent was just too good.
After a stunning 2022, no one would've predicted that Allen would succumb to such a comprehensive defeat but after mounting a comeback to take the first frame, Hawkins never looked back, combining expertly-judged safety play with some terrific long pots.
Next up for Hawkins could be a mouthwatering clash with Judd Trump, with the latter set to play Ryan Day on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking to Eurosport afterwards, Allen said: "I probably should have won the first frame, and I had a couple of other chances in frame four.
"Other than that I thought he [Hawkins] was phenomenal. Some of his safety play was ridiculously good.
"There were a number of times consecutively that I came to the table scratching my head - I had no shot at all.
"I just felt like I wasn't able to play safety returns, I was having to play containing safety to just try and get another shot in the frame.
"I said to him at the end, that's probably one of the best safety performances I think I've ever played against as a pro.
"Granted I missed a few balls as well but you just have to credit Barry, he just completely froze me out.
"I just got completely bashed up - there's absolutely no disgrace in that, you're playing against the very best in the world.
"It's just the manner of the defeat, obviously 6-0 looks bad on paper. But you just have to credit Barry, he was really good.
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Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins | Masters 2023 (World Snooker Tour)
Image credit: Other Agency
"It's back to the drawing board for me, back to the practice table and get ready for the [World] Grand Prix [between 16-22 January in Cheltenham]."
For his part, Hawkins savoured how he had kept Allen at bay.
"I felt good," he said in the Eurosport studio. "The first red of the day, I butchered it really and I thought 'oh no here we go'.
"But that helped me really, I got my focus back and after that I can't really remember too much - I just kept him on the back foot for most of it.
"I was trying to make sure I wasn't making unforced errors and keep him under pressure.
"There's room for improvement, I know I won 6-0 but I think the scoreline flatters me a bit."
Alan McManus said it was the completeness of Hawkins that had impressed him the most.
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'Every facet of the game nailed down' - McManus, White hail Hawkins after Allen rout
"He's very, very good in all departments," McManus said. "He puts as much stock into his safety play as he does his scoring.
"Every facet and area of the game he's got nailed down, and so when he feels good within himself and his own action, he is a real handful.
"It was a demonstration, that match, of the value of a brilliant safety game."
Jimmy White felt the first frame had been the turning point, labelling it "huge".
"Hawkins had not settled, and Allen let him off," the Whirlwind said.
"All of a sudden now he [Hawkins] settles, 2-0, 3-0 up, he knows how to win from there.
"He's not one of these players who's going to try to force the issue and go for more balls and try and make it happen quicker than it should do.
"For you to beat Hawkins when he's in front, you've got to play lights out snooker."
Allen's performance perhaps had its roots in his lack of match practice, as he later admitted.
“I’ve always said the Christmas break doesn’t do me any good, I said that even in the year I won. I need a run of tournaments," Allen told reporters in his press conference.
“I should have played in the Championship League last week with hindsight. I won’t make that mistake again next year."
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