Alan McManus, Jimmy White pay tribute to 'tough competitor' Barry Hawkins after Welsh Open win - 'Back where he should be'

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Barry Hawkins is the Welsh Open champion for 2026, and Alan McManus says the 46-year-old is "back where he should be". It is a first trophy in three years for a player who lifted his fifth ranking event title. TNT Sports expert McManus said The Hawk "fully deserves it", especially as the win wraps up his place at the World Championship - as he is assured of his place in the top 16.

'I'll buy him a few drinks' - Hawkins thanks Selby for persuading him to play at Welsh Open

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports expert Alan McManus believes Barry Hawkins is back where he belongs after ending his trophy drought.

The 46-year-old beat Jack Lisowski 9-5 to secure the Welsh Open title in Llandudno on Sunday evening.

It means he has topped the winner's podium for the first time since 2023, when he lifted the European Masters.

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On top of that, The Hawk has now cemented his place inside the world's top 16.

That ensures not having to qualify for the World Championship, and is likely to be enough to gain entry to the Tour Championship.

And McManus believes that is exactly where a player of Hawkins' calibre should be.

"He fully deserves it," the Scot told TNT Sports. "I'm delighted for him.

"It's brilliant that he's now ticked all of those boxes for the Crucible, looking at the Tour Championship and a few other things.

"And for the foreseeable future, he's back where he should be - firmly in the top 16."

Hawkins put in a fine performance in Llandudno, opening up a commanding 7-1 lead in the afternoon session.

That performance included two centuries, as Lisowski struggled to stick with him.

Things were a little different in the evening, when his opponent landed back-to-back three-figure breaks of his own.

But a fluke in the 12th frame helped Hawkins move to within one of victory, and he eventually wrapped up a 9-5 success.

Hawkins lifts Ray Reardon Trophy after Welsh Open final win

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports' Jimmy White was thrilled for a player who had admires greatly.

"He's such a tough competitor," he said. "He works so hard at his game.

"He's not the most natural player, but he doesn't miss anything. He doesn't play any wrong shots.

"When he scores like he did today, he's a handful for anyone. When he beat Neil Robertson, it was a bit of a struggle.

"And then the next match, when he was second favourite against Wu Yize, he produced the goods.

"You knew he had every chance of winning the title."

'It's just hard!'

Since Hawkins' 2023 European Masters title, he has had a number of near misses when it comes to lifting a trophy.

The closest of shaves came at the 2024 UK Championship and last year's German Masters, where the 46-year-old lost in the final.

After those agonising defeats, to Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson respectively, he was determined not to let history repeat itself.

"I've been knocking on the door for a little while," he told TNT Sports.

"I just feel like I've let myself down a few times when I've got to the quarter-finals and the last-16.

"You've got to be so hungry. You've got to be wanting it, wanting it, wanting it every round.

'There's the little celebration' - Hawkins wraps up title

Video credit: TNT Sports

"People have played well against me. But it's hard! It's just hard."

At 46, Hawkins still has time on his side compared to some of the greats of the game.

John Higgins and Mark Williams are still going strong into their 50s.

The latter of those has lifted a trophy in recent months, the Xi'an Grand Prix in October, while the former is a three-time runner-up this season.

But Hawkins is acutely aware that he may not have long left at the top, as he continued: "Time's ticking, now. Obviously Mark and John, they're still playing to an incredibly high standard at the age of 50-odd.

"But it's not getting any easier, that's for sure. And the standard's so tough."

He has, however, shown that he still has what it takes - which bodes well going into the business end of the season.

But, for now, there is some celebrating to do.

"I'm sure it'll sink in a little bit later on," he concluded. "It doesn't feel real right now."

Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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