Heroic Hawkins topples Trump to reach European Masters semis
Hawkins claimed his third straight victory over Trump (James Manning/PA Wire/PA Images)
Judd Trump crashed out of the European Masters after going down 5-3 against an inspired Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The winner of this event in 2016 and 2017, the Ace was looking to complete a hat-trick of titles this week at the Stadthalle in Furth.
The world number two survived a huge scare against Farakh Ajaib earlier in the day; recovering from needing a snooker after the Pakistani amateur went in-off on the blue, before scraping through on the final black.
He then fell 2-0 behind against the in-form Hawkins, who made it 17 frames from 18 with a run of 69 along the way.
But a poor safety on the yellow by the Hawk in the following frame allowed Trump to halve the deficit, before contributions of 72, 64 and 60 turned the contest on its head.
But world number 12 Hawkins was not to be denied; sealing his third successive victory over the Bristolian in sublime fashion with breaks of 129, 110 and 92.
The former Crucible runner-up set up a semi-final clash with another left-hander in Mark Williams after the three-time World champion ousted compatriot Jamie Jones 5-1.
Having whitewashed Zhou Yuelong 5-0 earlier on, Williams picked up from where he left off; centuries of 103 and 123 helping establish a 3-1 lead, with further runs of 61 and 50 sealing the deal.
Meanwhile, Kyren Wilson hit a top break of 101 on the way to a 5-2 success over Si Jiahui, who was appearing in his maiden ranking quarter-final.
Wu Yize was also in the last eight of a ranking event for the first time. But like his compatriot, he was unable to progress further; succumbing to Ali Carter by the same scoreline.
The Captain recovered from 2-1 down as he reeled off four successive frames to advance to the semi-finals of a ranking tournament for the first time since the 2020 Northern Ireland Open.
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European Masters 2022 Results
Friday August 19
Last 16
Ryan Day 2-5 Wu Yize
Ali Carter 5-4 David Grace
Judd Trump 5-4 Farakh Ajaib
Barry Hawkins 5-0 Robert Milkins
Daniel Wells 4-5 Si Jiahui
Shaun Murphy 3-5 Kyren Wilson
Mark Williams 5-0 Zhou Yuelong
Yan Bingtao 3-5 Jamie Jones
Quarter-Finals
Si Jiahui 2-5 Kyren Wilson
Wu Yize 3-5 Ali Carter
Judd Trump 3-5 Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams 5-1 Jamie Jones