Hawkins was the highest ranked player in the qualifiers

Dartford-based snooker player Barry Hawkins has qualified for his fifth Snooker World Championships in a row.

The 30-year-old, who is ranked number 17 in the world, beat former semi-finalist Ian McCulloch in the final round of qualifying.

Hawkins told BBC Radio Kent: "This is the biggest tournament in the calendar and carries double ranking points.

"It's brilliant, I'm chuffed and am a little drained too. I'm pleased to get through," he added.

Despite making it to four previous World Championships in Sheffield, Hawkins is still yet to win a match at the Crucible.

"Coming in cold is very difficult and you have to settle quickly and not make too many mistakes" Barry Hawkins

Due to his ranking, the Kent player only needed to win one match in qualifying to get through to Thursday's main draw, but he said that was not necessarily an advantage.

"The fellow I played beat Tony Drago a day or two before, others had played three matches and those players' confidence is sky high," Hawkins said.

"Coming in cold is very difficult and you have to settle quickly and not make too many mistakes."

Hawkins' previous visits to the World Championships have seen him beaten in the first round by Ken Doherty, Fergal O'Brien, Ali Carter and Graeme Dott, but this time around he is looking for an easier draw.

"I'm not saying it would be an easy first round game, but you want one a bit easier than Ronnie or John Higgins so that you can get into the tournament.

"I suppose I am looking for someone who is lacking a bit of form to give myself a bit more of a chance."

The draw for the first round will be made on Thursday, 11 March at 1030 GMT.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version