Barry Hawkins reveals John Higgins message after ‘strange’ Scottish Open clash

Barry Hawkins continued his good recent form against John Higgins (Picture: Getty Images)

John Higgins told Barry Hawkins he brought him down a level in a dispiriting defeat for the local hero at the Scottish Open.

The Hawk prevailed 4-3 in Edinburgh on Wednesday night, making breaks of 51, 69, 99 and 87 along the way.

The Wizard of Wishaw had looked pretty good in his opening round win over Ian Burns but struggled to replicate that form against the tougher challenge of Hawkins, failing to make a half-century in the seven frames.

‘We both had plenty of chances early doors and just ran out of position or did something stupid,’ Hawkins told Eurosport. ‘John just said to me at the end there, “I think I brought you down.” No chance!

‘It was a bit of a struggle at the start and then I felt like I started cueing the ball a bit better towards the end. It was a bit of a strange one really.’

The four-time world champion’s search for his next ranking title continues, with his last coming in February 2021.

While he will be disappointed falling short on home soil, it is no disgrace losing to an in-form Hawk, who only narrowly lost the UK Championship final to Judd Trump earlier this month.

John Higgins will be in action at next month’s Masters against Ronnie O’Sullivan (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I felt alright towards the end but I feel tired,’ admitted the Englishman after the win. ‘It’s been a long couple of weeks, maybe it’s caught up with me a little bit. I felt like I couldn’t focus, but tried to speed up a little bit, it worked in the end.’

Hawkins moves into the last 16 where he will take on exciting Chinese talent Wu Yize, with the 21-year-old continuing to impress as he climbs the rankings.

‘He’s a lovely lad, just goes about his business, I love the way he walks around the table,’ Hawkins said of Wu. ‘He’s a lovely kid and got a bright future ahead of him. He hits the ball unbelievably.

‘He could blow me away, potting them off the lampshades. It’s a great game to look forward to. I’m just delighted to still be here, after getting through that game against John, another big match for me.’

There is Scottish representation in the last 16 in Edinburgh thanks to a brilliant win for Stephen Maguire over world champion Kyren Wilson on Wednesday.

Wilson had whitewashed Maguire 6-0 less than three weeks ago at the UK Championship, with the Scot crestfallen over how bad his performance was in York.

However, he looked a different player as he made breaks of 79, 67, 71 and 128 in a 4-2 win.

‘That was better than two weeks ago when I played him, but it wouldn’t be hard, would it?’ Maguire told Eurosport. ‘I just got myself worked up at the UK. I watched the game back and I looked like I was going to wreck the place at one point.’

Speaking after his first round win over Matt Selt, Maguire said: ‘I’ve not experienced the crowd all behind you when you get to the one-table, I’ve not had that for 25 years so maybe I can break my duck this week!’