Barry Hawkins EXCLUSIVE: "The Australian Open has made me hungry to win more"

It's been an excellent year for Barry Hawkins so far.

Picture by Monique Limbos

He started 2012 with the capture of the Shootout title in Blackpool, went on to beat the world number one Mark Selby at the Crucible, won his first ranking event title at the Australian Open this summer and most recently sealed his place back in the world's top 16.

This success is no surprise to those who know the game well.

Hawkins is a good player to watch. He has always scored heavily and, at his best, boasts great long-potting ability. In fact, people in and around the circuit are surprised it's taken him so long to get his hands on major silverware.

Barry's victory Down Under is reward for a career which has seen him put everything into the game. He is one of the genuinely likable characters on the tour. He treats the game with great respect and isn't a moaner. He just gets on with it. That's why no-one will ever begrudge him of the achievements he's enjoyed this year.

He can now look forward to a seeded place at the upcoming UK Championship and then the prestigious Masters.

Barry took some time out from snooker to talk exclusively to OnCue about his excellent year...

Trump marches on

Judd Trump's super form is showing no signs of subsidence as he beat John Higgins 4-0 to win the Bulgarian Open.

The new world number one is sky high with confidence and bulldozing his way through tournaments right now.

In the past two months he's reached four finals and won two trophies - at a time when people say no-one can dominate.

In fact, Trump has met Higgins in a final for the second time in a week after their meeting in Gloucester on Wednesday. I am reliably informed that it's the first time the same two players have met in consecutive ranking event finals since 1995 when Higgins did the same with Steve Davis.

This victory in Sofia will be particularly sweet for Judd. He's been playing sensational snooker for a short while now - yet as I blogged here Higgins was proving to be his achilles' heel.

Trump beat Higgins for the first time in five meetings here to win the fourth European PTC of the season and was well worth his win. Higgins couldn't get near him. This kind of performance against a player who has caused him much trouble comes as a timely boost with the defence of his UK Championship crown now less than a fortnight away.

Judd is a dangerous beast at the best of times but, so rich in confidence, he's capable of blowing away the entire field.

John is the kind of player who won't let defeat deter him. He knows he can beat anyone - including Judd - and is the playing the game again with renewed vigour and a hunger that will ensure results follow.

Trump and Higgins will be the out and out favourites in York and have proved why over the past couple of tournaments. Today, they are the two best players in the world.

Talking Snooker with...OneStepSnooker

It's that time of the season again when OnCue takes a look back at some of the baize action we've enjoyed in recent weeks, with another helping of Talking Snooker.

Joining the debate this time is Brett, who operates under the Twitter account OneStepSnooker. A keen fan and tipster, he shares his snooker insights on the blog.

We talk Ronnie O'Sullivan, our world number one Judd Trump and the new International Championship...

OnCue: Thank you for joining me Brett. I've been reading lots of your tweets over the past few weeks. Some of your tips have brought me a bit of luck as well, so thanks very much.

Let's kick off with Mr O'Sullivan, who has got everyone talking again. He says he won't be playing again this season. What did you make of that news? Were you surprised?

So here is Sofia

Bulgaria is enjoying its first taste of live professional snooker this weekend with the fourth European PTC event of the season being held in Sofia.

The Bulgarian Open is another tournament and another new market being explored by the game.

Once again, snooker has been welcomed with open arms and the crowd look as if they're loving it. This hardly comes as a surprise when you look at how competitions elsewhere have been received on the continent in Belgium, Germany and Poland.

Europe as a whole is a market ready for snooker to tap into. There's a definite appetite for the game and, as always, Barry Hearn is determined to explore it.

Say what you like about our large-as-life supremo Bazza but while he's in charge of the sport he will never let it stand still. He is ambitious, brave and always thinks big.

Bulgaria could easily be another of his success stories.

The popularity of the small European events over the past two and a bit seasons have, in my opinion, gazumped the success of the entire PTC series. I'm all for snooker players being given the chance to play regular competitive matches. But taking the game to new countries to test the water is actually a venture with even greater potential reward.

Barry's next big challenge should be to convert one of these European tournaments into a full-fledged ranking event. This would be a statement of intent and a big sign of progress.

Higgins has got Trump's number

Judd Trump may be playing snooker that looks untouchable - but John Higgins continues to have the beating of him.

The Bristolian has scored 10 centuries over the past two days at the Pink PTC in Gloucester. Still it wasn't enough to land the title.

That's because of one man. Higgins has his number. Tonight he beat him 4-2 to land the trophy.

I admire Trump because he approaches every event, big or small, in the same way. He has a young fearlessness and an ambition to win every tournament he plays in. He enjoys the buzz of competing and rises to the challenge of winning.

When Judd is playing at his best, like he his now, he looks unstoppable. He has reached three finals within the past two months, but twice Higgins has been his undoing.

The Scot is playing in the twilight years of his career and is finding a way to contain and pick off Trump. His experience is clearly playing a part but I also believe he is motivated by the challenge of testing all his old tricks on the newest and most exciting talent in the game.

Trump is at the stage of his career where he will keep coming back for more. His positive attitude is unwavering. He has great belief in his ability, and so he should as the world number one.

He has time on his side to build on his success. But for now, Higgins is proving he can still come out on top.

Shoot-Out draw announced

The new year will bring a return of the popular Shoot-Out event at Blackpool Tower Circus Arena.

The exciting one-frame knockout event gives the game a feelgood factor and one-off injection of fun.

The random draw was made last night on TalkSPORT. A few top names are missing - including Judd Trump and Neil Robertson - but it's still an excellent draw.

Here's how they were pulled out...

Joe Perry v Michael White
Mark Williams v Mike Dunn
Adam Duffy v Jack Lisowski
Tom Ford v Mark Allen
David Gilbert v Ricky Walden
Mark Davis v Yu Delu
Aditya Mehta v Mark Joyce
Marcus Campbell v Matthew Stevens
Stuart Bingham v Anthony Hamilton
Jamie Jones v Mark King
Alan McManus v Fergal O'Brien
Rob Milkins v Ali Carter
Steve Davis v Barry Hawkins
Peter Ebdon v Dominic Dale
Jamie Burnett v Michael Holt
Mark Selby v Ken Doherty
Paul Davison v Ben Woollaston
Tian Pengfei v Jimmy Robertson
Kurt Maflin v Jamie Cope
Martin Gould v Rory McLeod
Graeme Dott v Matthew Selt
Dave Harold v Rod Lawler
Gerard Greene v Alfie Burden
Peter Lines v John Higgins
Shaun Murphy v Liu Chuang
Liang Wenbo v Stephen Maguire
Andy Hicks v Andrew Higginson
Jimmy White v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Anthony McGill v Barry Pinches
Nigel Bond v Cao Yupeng
Xiao Guodong v Ryan Day
Ding Junhui v Robbie Williams

Ronnie takes a break

Ronnie O'Sullivan made the headlines again today as he announced he will not play on the main tour again this season.

This means he will not play in the UK Championship or The Masters and, more crucially, he will not defend his world title at the Crucible.

Picture by Monique Limbos

His decision has been prompted by yet more personal issues and World Snooker released this official statement earlier.

As usual, Ronnie's decision has been greeted with criticism and cynicism but, in fact, it is probably the right one.

O'Sullivan's battle against glandular fever has been long and troublesome. His fight to win access to his children has allegedly not been easy either. Health and family life are things Ronnie values dearly.

And while snooker is not the cause of his problems, it certainly doesn't help.

So Ronnie has decided to take a break from the sport. He has given the it so much. He owes it nothing. He has won everything there is to win and has enough money to ensure a comfortable lifestyle. He has made a decision that will ultimately take off the pressure and make him a happier man. This deserves admiration.

O'Sullivan's absence will be a sore loss, make no mistake. His manager Django Fung alluded to the fact that he may never return to the game, but again this is a decision he should be allowed to make freely.

The severity of today's announcement may have shocked many but it puts an end to the 'will he or won't he withdraw' debate that arises before every ranking event. His intentions are clear and everyone knows where they stand.

Ronnie has won more in snooker than most ever will. Sure, many people believe he could have won even more, but his place as legend was secured long ago.

If he does choose to take his place back on the baize, he will be as popular as ever and welcomed with open arms. The challenge of having to fightback from potentially outside the top 32 of the world rankings may be the challenge he craves, or it could trigger him to call it a day.

What will Ronnie do next? Is this the end of an era?

Trump leads the way

Judd Trump continues to show he is snooker's brightest young star.

His 10-8 victory against Neil Robertson clinched him the first International Championship title and proved in a week when the focus was all about the future - that he is leading the way.

Judd is bold and he is brave on the table. He has instant star qualities but you can add ability to perform under pressure to his growing list of attributes.

When the Aussie led the final 8-6, you feared he was about to be outfoxed by the classy all-rounder and final specialist. Robertson had lost just one competitive final before today.

But when it mattered most, Trump found an extra gear and reeled off four straight frames to secure the £125,000 top prize and another trophy for his cabinet.

Judd has had largely his own way this week. Fergal O'Brien and Aditya Mehta rolled over easily. Mark Allen came out all-guns blazing, which suits him a treat and Peter Ebdon failed to serve up the resilience predicted. 

Robertson managed to ask Judd some difficult questions, but again he had the answers. He stuck by his game, went for his pots and, importantly, played some of his best safety.

Trump has been accused in the past of being a one-trick pony but here he has shown a completeness that will help him retain his number one status for the long haul.

Some people suggest Trump must show his opponents more respect, but this would be losing his approach to the game that makes him so special.

Judd plays the game with a youthful fearlessness. It's an absolute joy to watch because he has the ability to pull it off.

I hope he never changes because he's box office at its best.

Well played Judd.

On top of the world

Judd Trump became the new world number one today - and he did it with his stylish touch.

Needing to reach the final of the International Championship to overtake Mark Selby at the top of the rankings, he was brutal in his 9-1 demolition of Peter Ebdon in the semi-final.

It was everything we have come to expect from Judd in its delivery. Fast, furious and entertaining.

Picture by Monique Limbos

This is a big milestone in Trump's inevitable rise to becoming one the greats. He's still a world title or a few away from becoming a legend, but the way he audaciously plays the game means he's already well on the way.

He's already is great company. He is only the tenth player to occupy the number one spot in the rankings since they were designed in 1976.

His name goes next to Ray Reardon, Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson and Mark Selby. This is a stellar list but his name is certainly not out of place. I'd expect him to be in or around top spot for man more years to come.

There is much to admire about Trump.

Since his breakthrough to stardom winning the 2011 China Open, he's won the UK Championship, reached the final at the Crucible, picked up points all over the place and put on a show at every opportunity.

His outrageous shot-making ability, unwavering temperament, unshakable confidence and enviable good looks make him a ready-made star, but he appreciates he must work for his success.

Unlike lots of young players, Trump appears to see the bigger picture. He has an admirable work hard, play hard attitude and is always keen to keep improving putting in long hours on the practice table. He's clearly motivated by winning the most prestigious titles and entertaining the crowds on the biggest occasions, but this doesn't disrupt his consistent dedication.

I'm not saying he's perfect. He's had plenty of critics; more than he deserves. But this is part and parcel of being a such a phenomenal and a sure sign of his dramatic rise and continuous success.

Encouragingly, Judd hasn't let it put him off doing what he does best.

The tag of being world number one could easily weigh heavy round the neck of a player so young, but I can't see this being a problem for Trump. He's taken everything he's achieved so far in his stride, but always stays grounded.

In today's press conference he talked down his new ranking position insisting he still has a job to do in Chengdu and that his primary aim is to become world champion.

Judd has been a star in the making for many years. He has good people around him and has had plenty of time to prepare for the limelight. These have clearly been factors in helping him to handle life at the top.

He does so many things well and plays snooker in a way you can't help but enjoy. He is a complete breath of fresh air.

The final four

Snooker in China has come of age this week.

The first International Championship has brought prestige to an event in this part of the world like never seen before - which bodes really well for the future.

An impressive £125,000 top prize has focused the minds of most of the top players and the reward for the fans is a truly exciting semi-final line-up.

Such has been the quality of play this week, like at all big events, you can't reach the final four without being bang on form.

That's why we've arrived at this stage with four great champions still standing, who all have a realistic shot of landing the silverware.

OnCue assesses the performances of the semi-finalists so far and why each of them could land the top prize....

Peter Ebdon

Brush the sweeping, and unfair, public opinion of Ebdon to one side and you have one of snooker's best professionals and champions. Ebdon is no longer in the top 16 but still arrives at the biggest events capable of going home with the trophy, just like he did at the China Open. He may have lost the fluidity of his game but he's as tenacious as ever and a match for any of the big boys. He's beaten Stephen Maguire and Ricky Walden this week for the loss of just one frame. Don't write him off.

Judd Trump

The man in the field carrying fear factor. Judd has been in scintillating form making big breaks quickly and knocking in all kinds of long pots. His 6-3 win against Fergal O'Brien flattered the Irishman but he followed it up with a quickfire 6-0 demolition of Aditya Mehta that showed the kind of punishing mood he's in. He was involved in one of the games of the season today as he beat Mark Allen 6-5. The standard was through the roof. It was worthy of any final. This showed he's got the nerve to back up his vast quality. He's playing confident snooker - banishing thoughts of his dramatic defeat to John Higgins in Shanghai - and he's won back the love of everyone. Victory in the semi-final would take him to number one in the world rankings for the first time. That's a great incentive. The clear dangerman in the field.

Neil Robertson

The Aussie is the man for the big events. Last season he won the Masters, reached the UK Championship semi-finals and got to the last eight at the Crucible. The International Championship is now one of the big ones and here he is again at the business end. His 14-year-old opponent Lu Haotian has a great all-round game for someone so young, but came up against the master in that department. Robertson can win matches no matter how they play out. A great potter, a fine break-builder and happy to fight it out. That's quite a package. It's a while since Neil performed in China, but he was always bound to come good. Now he's established himself in this tournament, he'll take some budging.

Shaun Murphy 

The Magician brings a touch of class to proceedings. As much as his first round 6-0 win against Andrew Higginson was comfortable, his second round victory against Ding Junhui was clinical in its conclusion. He led Ding 4-1. But after pegged back to level terms, he produced two fine breaks to cross the line. Shaun is the first to admit he enjoys the buzz of the bigger events much more, but he's been waiting quite a while to go all the way. He's been showing glimmers of his best form sporadically over the last couple of years, but the level of control he's showed this week has been the most impressive aspect of his game. He stepped up a gear when he needed to against Ding and hit four frames on the bounce when he trailed Marco Fu 3-1 in the quarter-finals. That's a sign of comfort on the table.