Ronnie O’Sullivan graciously admitted that world No.20 Barry Hawkins “deserved” to dump him out of the UK Championship on the opening day in York on Saturday. The defending champion suffered a surprise loss having led 4-2 in York.
Hawkins won four consecutive frames to clinch a 6-4 victory and just his third career win over O’Sullivan from 21 meetings. Hawkins, 45, managed four successive half-century breaks as his opponent sat in his chair for three straight frames.
And O’Sullivan, a record eight-time champion at this event, conceded that he didn’t deserve anything but defeat. “I just think Barry played a good match and deserved his win, so I have to give all credit to him,” a visibly disappointed O’Sullivan admitted.
“He played well, looked strong and took his chances. I’m all right about it and I’m pretty much used to it. You just have to roll with it. It is what it is.
“I’m just enjoying playing, that’s the important thing. I try to not look back on it and on to whatever the next event is.”
O’Sullivan had initially produced two century breaks to take a 3-1 lead into the interval against an opponent who had not beaten him since the 2016 World Championship at The Crucible.
The seven-time world champion later punched the table in frustration though as Hawkins reeled ‘The Rocket’ in from 4-2 down to record a memorable triumph.
Hawkins, who will face China’s Xiao Guodong or England’s David Gilbert in the last 16, said at the York Barbican: “It has been eight years since I’ve beaten him so that win has to be right up there for me.
“It’s a massive win. So many times I’ve played him and he has done well and other times he has been there for the taking and I’ve crumbled and could not take advantage.
“He looked sharp to me, but I felt strong at the end to get a win. Hopefully this gives me a lot of confidence and I can take that into the next round, but I can’t get carried away.”
Hawkins came into the contest with a wretched record against O’Sullivan which included losing the 2013 World Championship final 18-12 and a 10-9 Tour Championship semi-final defeat which he had led 9-6.
“I thought ‘here we go, I’m going home again’,” added Hawkins. “So many times I’ve been on the brink of winning against Ronnie and it has gone to the last frame and I’ve lost a decider.
“Maybe I was a bit more aggressive today, I had a bit more confidence and belief.
“Obviously this is a great result but there’s no way I will be happy if I beat Ronnie and then lose in the next round. I know I can do it, but sometimes I’ve not turned up, played awful and crumbled, but I’ve now just beaten the best player in the world.”
