{"id":2619,"date":"2026-03-26T16:25:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=2619"},"modified":"2026-03-26T16:25:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:25:30","slug":"barry-hawkins-welsh-open-win-a-distant-memory-as-injury-scuppers-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=2619","title":{"rendered":"Barry Hawkins&#8217; Welsh Open win a &#8216;distant memory&#8217; as injury scuppers progress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27686403\" alt=\"Welsh Open 2026 - Day 7\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Welsh Open champion Barry Hawkins is back in action on Monday in Manchester (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Barry Hawkins memorably claimed the Welsh Open title earlier this month, but says that memory is already feeling distant as injury has curtailed his progress since.<\/p>\n<p>The Hawk swooped to win a fifth ranking event of his career in Llandudno, beating Jack Lisowski in the final after a tough run which saw him down the likes of Mark Williams, Neil Robertson and Wu Yize.<\/p>\n<p>The 46-year-old was \u2018literally seconds from pulling out\u2019 of the event due to a back injury, but was convinced by Robertson and Mark Selby to hit the painkillers and play through the soreness.<\/p>\n<p>It paid off in Wales, but the problem remained and Hawkins was forced to pull out of the World Open in Yushan, leaving him feeling like he has lost momentum after his Llandudno triumph.<\/p>\n<p>Asked how confident he is feeling after the Welsh Open win and ahead of the Tour Championship next week, Hawkins told <strong>Metro<\/strong>, via 247bet: \u2018It\u2019s funny you should say that, because it\u2019s mad. That tournament seems like a distant memory already, it\u2019s weird. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018It would have been nice going to the next tournament in China coming off the back of a win, but I just couldn\u2019t go. My back was just too sore. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018I tried to practise leading up to it. I had a week off after the Welsh to try and rest it, do the stretches and get it better. But I went to practise and it was just too stiff and sore.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264008648.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27185190\" alt=\"Welsh Open 2026 - Day 5\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Hawkins was forced out of the World Open due to his back issue (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018It was a hard decision because I was thinking I could make the most of it, with the confidence to go out there and who knows, maybe have another deep run. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s been a few weeks now. So I think the confidence\u2026well until I go back out there on Monday I won\u2019t really know, but I feel pretty good in my game. I just need to get a few more hours in on the table.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>An osteopath has diagnosed the problem as a disc bulge and the pain is easing after initially being seriously concerning in Wales.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s a lot better,\u2019 said Hawkins. \u2018When I was at the Welsh, it was painful every morning. Getting out of bed was a nightmare, I couldn\u2019t put my shoes or socks on.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ll be all right. It will be nice to just get up in the morning and have no discomfort.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The world number 11 gave himself some more discomfort after lifting the Ray Reardon trophy, indulging in a significant amount of the tequila available in Llandudno on a Sunday night.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We had a little party, well not even a party, just a little drink in the hotel. I had a couple of friends who drove up on the day,\u2019 he said. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018I had a couple of drinks at 10 o\u2019clock and then by half 12, I think I\u2019d had way too many tequilas and I was passed out! Had to go to bed!<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I had a sore head on the way home from Llandudo in the car. That wasn\u2019t nice.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Next up is the Tour Championship in Manchester, starting Monday, followed by the World Championship at the Crucible next month.<\/p>\n<p>The Hawk has a curious record in Sheffield, losing in the first round on his first five visits, before a glorious run which saw him make four semis and a final in six years.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2211196857.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27687573\" alt=\"Halo World Championship 2025 - Day 2\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Hawkins last won a match at the Crucible in 2021 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, the last four years has produced three first round defeats and his only failure to qualify for the Crucible since 2005, so it has been a story in three distinct chapters so far.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018When I look back, it\u2019s an amazing record, really,\u2019 he said. \u2018In that six year period when I was always getting to the one-table set-up. When I look back now, I think, bloody hell, that was quite good going, really.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But since then it\u2019s been very disappointing. I\u2019ve lost to players who played well against me. It ain\u2019t like I\u2019ve gone there and completely crumbled,<br \/>but not to the top of my game. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018This season, it\u2019d be lovely to go there and get past the first hurdle and feel part of the tournament again, because it feels like a long time since I\u2019ve been part of it.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Jason Ferguson talks up snooker national academy project following Crucible deal<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Shaun Murphy hails \u2018truly unifying\u2019 Crucible news and suggests venue for refurb year<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Barry Hearn sets World Snooker Championship prize money target following Crucible deal<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--sport\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n<p>Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro&#8217;s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:90px; background:#4ecdc4; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114300\" data-width=\"728\" data-height=\"90\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114300});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u4e3b\u680f\uff1a\u591a\u5e7f\u544a\u5806\u53e0 -->\r\n  <div style=\"display:grid; 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background:#ff9ecd; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114305\" data-width=\"250\" data-height=\"250\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114305});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:139px; background:#c792ea; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114302\" data-width=\"133\" data-height=\"139\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114302});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:125px; background:#91e7ac; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Barry Hawkins&#8217; Welsh Open win a &#8216;distant memory&#8217; as injury scuppers progress<br \/>\n<br \/>#Barry #Hawkins #Welsh #Open #win #distant #memory #injury #scuppers #progress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welsh Open champion Barry Hawkins is back in action on Monday in Manchester (Picture: Getty&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2122,2656,2654,324,2657,916,2454,2658,2655,1766],"class_list":["post-2619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-barry","tag-distant","tag-hawkins","tag-injury","tag-memory","tag-open","tag-progress","tag-scuppers","tag-welsh","tag-win"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2264282450_3a01cc_1774542172-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2619\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}