Barry Hawkins is expecting a more free-flowing match against Judd Trump in the UK Championship final than his ‘gruelling’ clash with Mark Allen on Saturday night.
The Hawk edged out the Pistol 6-5 in a lengthy contest that finished just short of 1am on Sunday.
Allen’s pace of play was noted on commentary, with Shaun Murphy suggesting it was a ploy to annoy his opponent.
Hawkins dismissed that suggestion, saying: ‘I think he’s just struggling with his game. I think he was just trying his pint of blood in every shot. I don’t think he’s like that.’
However, the 45-year-old did find the match very hard work and hopes for a more open contest in the final against Trump.
‘It was an absolutely gruelling match. To come through one of those games, I’m over the moon. It wasn’t pretty to watch. I had one good frame to level at 5-5. I can’t remember many other frames that were any good. It was just a battle. I’m completely drained,’ he said.
‘I stuck in there. I just kept trying, that is all you can do. I just tried not to beat myself up. When you are scoring bad and missing balls it becomes really hard. You never know what can happen, I’ve fell over the line tonight and I’m pleased I managed to dig in.
On facing Trump having beaten Ronnie O’Sullivan, Dave Gilbert, Shaun Murphy and Allen, Hawkins added: ‘It isn’t easy is it? Look at how many great players I had to beat this week. To get to another Triple Crown final is brilliant. I am really looking forward to playing Judd. It should be a great occasion.
‘Judd is a different kind of player, no disrespect to Mark, but it will be a free-flowing match, and it will be amazing to play Judd again. He is an all-time great.’
Allen said of his own performance: ‘I got what I deserved I deserved in the end. I didn’t take advantage of the chances I had, and I had quite a few. It’s agonising because I got so close, despite playing poorly. Barry was the better player tonight. Only my grit and determination gave me a chance towards the end, but the right person won.
‘Losing anyone Triple Crown semi-final is always hard to take but I think I’ve turned the corner this week. It’s disappointing now, but there are plenty of positives.’
World number one Trump goes into the final as favourite as he bids for a second UK Championship title and Hawkins aims to win his first.
The Ace has beaten Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Zhang Anda and Kyren Wilson to reach the showpiece, comfortably downing the world champion 6-2 on Saturday.
That followed a stunning 6-2 victory over Zhang in which Trump made breaks of 89, 126, 120, 131, 61 and 120 and said of that display: ‘I can’t play much better than that I barely missed a ball. It is probably my best performance of all season. It is nice to produce that in such a big event. It isn’t often that you play your best in the biggest tournaments. It is nice to know I’ve still got it and I can keep improving.’
Trump holds a winning record over Hawkins in major events, leading 11-9, but the Hawk has some big victories over the Ace, including two Masters semi-finals and last year’s European Masters final.
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