Alan McManus provides theory for why players suffer more miscues in modern game after Barry Hawkins survived scare to beat Wu Yize in Welsh Open

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Barry Hawkins snapped a barren run without an appearance in a final which dated back over a year when he secured a battling win over Wu Yize in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open. He shook off a horror miscue and later celebrated with the crowd at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

'It put him on the back foot' - White and McManus analyse Hawkins' miscue

Video credit: TNT Sports

Barry Hawkins overcame a horror miscue to beat Wu Yize in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open, and Alan McManus put forward a theory for why players suffer more miscues in the modern era.

Hawkins was cruising at 4-1 ahead at Venue Cymru in Llandudno when he suffered an awful miscue when attempting to pot a red with the rest.

From that moment, Hawkins was largely consigned to his chair as Wu ran through three frames in a row with knocks of 83, 74 and 122.

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Hawkins pinched the ninth after Wu missed a black off its spot and took a scrappy 10th to book his place in a first ranking final since the German Masters in February 2025.

The miscue could have been pivotal, and Jimmy White was impressed with how Hawkins was able to battle back in the face of a barrage of potting from his opponent.

"He [Hawkins] was in control of the match, then all of a sudden miscued with the rest and from there Wu took control," White said in the TNT Sports studio. "Barry did well to get over the line in the end."

Alongside White in the TNT Sports studio, McManus felt Hawkins attempted to put too much action on the ball.

"He is in complete control," McManus said. "He tries to work the cueball back and work an opening, but he got a proper one [miscue].

"It can happen, and I think miscues are more prominent these days than 20 or 30 years ago and that put him on the back foot for the next three frames."

Rachel Casey asked McManus for a reason why miscues are more prevalent in the modern game, and the 1994 Masters champion suggested modern chalk was behind them.

'A great steal' - Hawkins stops rot by pinching ninth frame

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I think the chalk generally is a bit finer," McManus said. "It [modern chalk] is better in a lot of ways.

"Just a small example, Jack Lisowski is using the old chalk, the square stuff. He feels it gives him a bit more grip."

Emotional Hawkins

After getting over the line, the normally reserved Hawkins pumped his fist and celebrated with the crowd in Llandudno.

The 46-year-old said the rollercoaster nature of the match prompted his show of emotion.

'You don't often see that from him' - Hawkins celebrates victory over Wu

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It was just the way the match was going and the way the last frame was going," Hawkins said. "I lost the cueball through the gap in the reds and I thought it was game over. I could not believe I did it.

"So just to get over the line was a relief, really, as he can pot some mad balls from nowhere."

Hawkins, whose best efforts in the 2025/26 season prior to the Welsh Open were quarter-final appearances at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, International Championship and UK Championship, will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Jack Lisowski and John Higgins.

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

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