Dartford's Barry Hawkins qualifies for place in World Snooker Championship at the Crucible after beating Ian McCulloch
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Barry Hawkins clinched a place in next month’s World Snooker
Championships after successfully progressing from a tricky
qualifier on Monday.
Hawkins (pictured), the highest ranked player in the qualifiers
at number 17, beat Ian McCulloch 10-7 in a close fought match to
earn a fifth successive place in the game’s most prestigious
tournament.
The Dartford cueman was 6-3 up after the first session and that
paved the way to sealing a place at the Crucible for the
championship which takes place on April 17. His top breaks in the
match were 66 and 109.
Hawkins will be hoping for a favourable first round draw after
his previous four visits ended in defeat at the first hurdle. That
draw takes place on Thursday morning.
He said: "I just want to get through that first round, because
after that anything can happen."
As one of the 16 qualifiers Hawkins will face a top ranked
player in the seeded draw and will want to avoid a first round
pairing against the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen
Maguire.
Before his trip to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre he is involved
in the China Open. That tournament starts on March 29 in
Beijing.
Tuesday, March 09 2010
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