Tour Championship 2021 - Barry Hawkins, Ronnie O'Sullivan all square heading into evening session

ByEurosport

Updated 27/03/2021 at 15:42 GMT

Barry Hawkins, who knocked out Judd Trump in a dramatic quarter-final clash in the Tour Championship on Thursday, began with rapid breaks of 125 and 138 en route to taking a three-frame advantage, but Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled four back as the afternoon session finished 4-4 at Celtic Manor. The winner will face Neil Robertson in Sunday's final.

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Barry Hawkins got off to a fast start against Ronnie O'Sullivan in his semi-final clash on Saturday afternoon, but the Rocket fought back to ensure the pair enter the evening session at 4-4.

Hawkins began perfectly, clearing the table with 125 in the opening frame for his 380th career century. He continued his fabulous opening with a quickfire 138 clearance.

The Rocket was grounded. After missing an easy pink, he conceded in the third at 61-27 to hand The Hawk a deserved three-frame lead.

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O'Sullivan pulled a frame back in the fourth with breaks of 50 and 60 enough to reduce the deficit.

After the interval the world number two pulled it back. The Rocket began with a fluke and took full advantage with a break of 63 to move within one of Hawkins.

He made it all square with a break of 61 in a 15-minute frame. Ronnie made it four in a row with break of 94 to set up a crucial eighth frame.

O'Sullivan smacked his cue against the table in frustration after missing an important red at 0-15 to present Hawkins the chance to take the frame. The 41-year-old capitalised with a break of 65 to set up an enthralling evening decider at Celtic Manor.