Match Reports from the 888.com World Championship
O’Brien Swoops on Hawkins
Barry Hawkins 9 – 10 Fergal O’Brien
Barry Hawkins rued an unusual bounce on the bottom cushion that gifted the deciding frame to Fergal O’Brien.
The overall standard was good, and of the 11 frames played on day three, only two did not have a break of over 50.
The scores were level at 4-4, but O’Brien opened with a century and never looked back, getting to within sight of victory at 9-6. Hawkins countered, winning three frames in a row to tie the match, including a fine century of his own to mark his birthday.
The Irishman had a 29-point lead in the last frame when he badly missed a long red. With the balls nicely spread the world number 12 looked set to win the match with a steady break when fate struck.
Potting a red, the cue ball got a ‘big bounce’ off the cushion to finish two or three inches above where he planned. The black was still relatively straightforward, but the magnitude of the situation got to the 28–year-old and he missed.
O’Brien coolly closed out the match to notch his first win at the Crucible since making the quarter-finals in 2000. He celebrated Ebdon style, letting out a yelp of joy as he slammed in the final red.
By David Pritchard
