Barry Hawkins gets injury scare before World Snooker Championship title bid as 'The Hawk' explains World Open absence
Published 13/03/2026 at 20:41 GMT
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Barry Hawkins has said he is continuing to battle a back injury before he chases further title glory at the Tour Championship and World Championship. The world No. 9 has withdrawn from the World Open after playing through the pain barrier to lift the Welsh Open last month with a 9-5 win over Jack Lisowski in Llandudno. The Ditton man has won five ranking titles in his 26-year career.
Hawkins lifts Ray Reardon Trophy after Welsh Open final win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Barry Hawkins has said he had to pull out of the World Open in Yushan next week to keep alive his hopes of a first world title in Sheffield.
The five-time ranking event winner has been battling a lower back problem and was on the verge of withdrawing from the Welsh Open earlier this month because of the issue.
The Ditton man somehow managed to battle through the pain barrier to complete a dominant 9-5 final victory over Jack Lisowski in Llandudno, but could not take the risk of a trip to China.
Hawkins was set to face world No. 100 Ian Burns in the last 64 but has withdrawn on medical grounds.
"I don't like pulling out of events so it wasn't an easy decision," he said on World Snooker Tour.
"But I am in pain just practising, so I need to rest it, and make sure I am ready for Manchester [Tour Championship] and Sheffield [World Championship].
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'There's the little celebration' - Hawkins wraps up title
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Manchester is one of the best venues we go to and it’s an amazing location right in the middle of the city, so the players love it.
"The matches are best of 19 from the start, against the best players in the world, so it's also a perfect warm up for the Crucible."
Hawkins is set to take part in the 12-player Tour Championship (March 30-April 5) alongside Mark Selby and Neil Robertson, with both players persuading him not to withdraw from the Welsh Open.
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"Mark did text me and said I'll just have 10% [of a share], that's what he said," he told TNT Sports.
"I'll buy them a few drinks, I'm sure. I was that close to pulling out, they said, 'just give it another couple of hours, take some painkillers,' and thankfully it started easing up as I was playing.
"Thank God I stayed."
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'I'll buy him a few drinks' - Hawkins thanks Selby for persuading him to play at Welsh Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
Hawkins will be among the seeds for the World Championship as he bids to claim the sport's biggest prize after losing 18-12 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2013 final at the Crucible.
The World Open will be staged between March 16-22, live on TNT Sports and on-demand on discovery+.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports.
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