Hawkins Scoops Players Championship

2014 Players Championship winner Barry Hawkins.
Image: Monique Limbos

Barry Hawkins secured his first title for over a year and a half as he whitewashed Gerard Greene to claim the Players Championship title.

The 2012 Australian Goldfields Open champion dominated the final at the Guild Hall on Saturday and top breaks of 117, 75 and 50 saw off Northern Irishman Greene in his first ever ranking event title. Greene, a professional for 21 years now, had been threatened by dropping off the tour before the event, but his run to the final means he’s now up to 42 in the money rankings, which will come into place next season.

Hawkins had earlier defeated Judd Trump 4-1 in the second of the two semi-finals. Trump won the opener with a 62 break but could not stop Hawkins as he steam-rollered the next four frames with breaks of 50, 75, 131 and 61.

Greene had beaten Marco Fu 4-2 in the day’s other semi-final to book his place. Greene won three of the opening four and although Fu fired home a 121 break t close to 3-2, Greene secured the win, winning frame six 68-20.