Masters snooker 2022: 'A possible winner of tournament' – Shaun Murphy tips Barry Hawkins for title glory

ByEurosport

Updated 11/01/2022 at 19:12 GMT

Barry Hawkins has lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2013 world final and the 2016 Masters final respectively, but Shaun Murphy believes this may be the year when 'The Hawk' lands one of the sport's most coveted trophies. Murphy led Hawkins 2-1 in the first round at the Alexandra Palace, but lost the next five frames as the Ditton man secured a quarter-final with Mark Selby or Stephen Maguire.

Shaun Murphy has backed Barry Hawkins for Masters glory after suffering a 6-2 defeat to the former World Grand Prix champion in the first round at London's Alexandra Palace.

Hawkins lost the 2013 world final (18-12) and the 2016 Masters final (10-1) to Ronnie O'Sullivan respectively, but 2005 world champion Murphy believes he is sharp enough to challenge for the Paul Hunter Trophy and £250,000 top prize this year.

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The Ditton professional extended his dominance against Murphy at the sport's most coveted invitational tournament having also toppled his fellow Englishman 6-1 in 2017 and 6-2 three years ago in the first round.

“After the interval I thought he played like a possible winner of the tournament," said Murphy.

"He was very, very good and he doesn’t make many mistakes.

"Losing the fourth and fifth frames took the wind out of my sales and in the end he picked me off.”

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Hawkins rolled in breaks of 65, 67, 60, 103 and 69 as he won the final five frames from 2-1 behind to secure a quarter-final with Mark Selby or Stephen Maguire on Friday night.

“I played well tonight and I’ve played well before here. Maybe it is just the occasion. It is a local tournament and a massive occasion," said the world number 10.

"Sometimes I get up for it more than I do the other events. Shaun is a great player, I can’t see why I do well against him here but his head-to-head is 10-4. I just seem to have it on him here really."

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