Barry Hawkins Triumphs: European Masters Recap and Snooker Rankings Update
The second ranking tournament of the 2023/24 snooker season recently concluded with Barry Hawkins emerging as the champion, securing his fourth career ranking title and an £80,000 champion’s prize. In this post, we’ll delve into the exciting developments of the European Masters and provide an update on the world snooker rankings.
Barry Hawkins Clinches European Masters Title
Barry Hawkins delivered a stellar performance at the Kia Metropol Arena in Nuremberg. Overcoming formidable opponents, including World Championship finalists Luca Brecel and Mark Selby. His impressive display culminated in a thrilling victory over Judd Trump in the final, solidifying his return to the top 16 players in the world.
Challenging Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Reign
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s withdrawal from the tournament opened up opportunities for other players to challenge his world number one position. Luca Brecel and Mark Allen both had their chances to surpass O’Sullivan in the rankings. While Mark Allen’s campaign ended early, Luca Brecel came remarkably close to becoming mainland Europe’s first world number one. However, a narrow 5-4 defeat to Barry Hawkins in the last 16 means that O’Sullivan retains his top-ranking status, at least for now.
The Battle for Number One
With the British Open on the horizon, the battle for the number one ranking promises to be intense. Brecel’s provisional position above O’Sullivan adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming competition in Cheltenham.
Top Snooker Rankings
The current official two-year rankings list places Brecel and Allen in second and third place, respectively. Judd Trump, the European Masters runner-up, occupies the fourth spot. The rest of the top eight includes Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, and Kyren Wilson, with John Higgins climbing to ninth following his impressive semi-final run. Barry Hawkins’ victory propelled him back into the elite bracket, now ranking 13th, and positioning him well for an invitation to the prestigious Masters tournament.
BetVictor Series Rankings
Barry Hawkins’ £80,000 prize for his European Masters win has catapulted him. To the top spot in the BetVictor Series rankings. The BetVictor Series offers substantial bonuses, with the money leader after the eight counting events of the season receiving a bumper bonus of £150,000.
Upcoming Snooker Events
The upcoming snooker calendar features the invitational Shanghai Masters and the British Open in Cheltenham. Before these events, preliminary stages of both the English and Wuhan Opens are set to kick off. Promising more thrilling snooker action in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more snooker updates as the season unfolds!
