Barry Hawkins had to settle for being runner-up at the UK Championship (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It reminded me I can still do it. That was probably some of the best snooker I’ve ever played, over the week as a whole.’
Barry Hawkins is taking the positives from Sunday’s defeat to Judd Trump in the UK Championship final, although there is no question that another defeat in a Triple Crown showpiece does sting.
It was a fantastic contest in York which Trump won 10-8 and although the Hawk played well, in any close game there will be moments that linger with the runner-up.
‘The thing that sticks in my mind is at 6-5, I was in the balls and ran out of position on about 35. On a blue to go in and out of baulk, it’s a simple shot and overhit it by a mile. I wouldn’t say it was a turning point but it was a chance to level the match,’ Hawkins told Metro.
‘Then at 9-8 I was getting in that groove like I did against Ronnie [O’Sullivan] and [Shaun] Murphy. I had that spell of a few frames where I was in the zone, things started happening and I believed I could win then.
‘I almost got to him, but he’s number one in the world for a reason. It’s been a very good couple of weeks, but I’m obviously disappointed not to leave with the trophy.’
As Hawkins mentioned he enjoyed a brilliant run to the final, beating O’Sullivan, Murphy, Dave Gilbert and Mark Allen in a gruelling semi-final.
Trump and Hawkins put on a great show at the Barbican (Picture: Getty Images)
That win over the Pistol ended just before 1am on the day of the final and although Hawkins didn’t seem too troubled by it, the lack of sleep cannot have helped him in the final.
‘I got to bed about 3am,’ he said. ‘They did everything as quickly as possible with the media and the bit of promotional stuff for the final. But then you’ve got to come down after winning, chill for a bit, it takes a while to wind down.
‘You don’t sleep well either, I was awake a couple of times and then up about 7am. I managed to nick another hour before the game.
‘I think after the first four frames of the evening, the mid-session interval, I started feeling it, but cup of tea and a biscuit and I felt alright again. The adrenaline keeps you going.’
Hawkins climbed to number 13 in the world thanks to the York run (Picture: Getty Images)
Hawkins has now been to a World Championship, UK and two Masters finals and is yet to land the big one, but the dream is far from dead.
The 45-year-old played some brilliant stuff throughout the tournament, including coming through two qualifiers, and thinks he has plenty of time left at the top of the game.
Asked if he would be disappointed to finish his career without a Triple Crown title on his record, he said: ‘As I get older, yeah I would now.
‘Obviously there’s lots of players that never get to a Triple Crown final so it’s good to get there, but the fact I was so close this time is the most disappointing thing.
‘The [2013] World Championship final I played well, but the other two I was completely outplayed and intimidated. I played well in this one, I was in touching distance, got beat by the best player in the world, so I can’t be too hard on myself.
‘It reminded me I can still do it, that was probably some of the best snooker I’ve ever played, over the week as a whole. I can still do it on the big stage. It gives me confidence going forward knowing that I’ve still got it and I’ve got a few years in me playing well.’
Trump won a fifth Triple Crown title with his York triumph (Picture: Getty Images)
It was a defeat taken in brilliant spirit, and then with some more spirits alongside the champion at the party afterwards.
‘I just kept getting him shots!’ Hawkins said of Trump. ‘I get on great with Judd, got a lot of time for him, he’s got a nice family.
‘He told me he knew he had to take it out there and then [in the 18th frame], he said he could see how good I was feeling and obviously he was feeling it a bit as well. 9-9 anything could have happened. He knew he was in a game, for sure.’
Beating O’Sullivan was one of the big positives of the tournament for Hawkins, having not downed the Rocket in a big event since the 2016 World Championship.
‘I’ve struggled big time, the record speaks for itself, so that was a big moment for me and spurred me on. It’s not as though he was playing bad!’ Hawkins said.
Hawkins beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-4 on the opening day of the tournament (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I spoke to him later actually, I bumped into him as he was leaving the gym in York. He called me a name from across the road which I can’t really mention. I looked up and saw it was him and went over and we chatted about the game and stuff.
‘He said: “You’re playing well Baz, keep it going.” I’ve always got on alright with Ronnie. I’ve been to practice with him every now and again. Obviously he says things sometimes that people don’t agree with, but catch him on his own and he’s always been fine with me.’
The four-time ranking event winner revealed he was also asked to join the BBC’s commentary team over the tournament, but opted against it, although he would love to have a shot on the microphone in future.
‘They did ask me to do some commentary, which was really nice, but I was playing the following day so I turned it down,’ he said. ‘When you’re in the tournament, just watching snooker can be quite draining, you can’t help but get involved, but you want to stay as fresh as possible.
‘I didn’t want to sit in the commentary box for four hours because I wanted to chill and do a bit of practice. I did say I’d do it another time if the opportunity comes along and I’m not playing. I’d love to give it a go.’
Hawkins has pulled out of this week’s Shoot Out after a draining couple of weeks and will return at the Scottish Open, where he plays Alexander Ursenbacher on Monday.