Barry Hawkins reaches first Masters final with victory over Judd Trump

And the 39-year-old acknowledges he was solid but unspectacular as he prepares for a massive semi-final with Ronnie O’Sullivan on Saturday evening.

17/1/16 Ronnie O’Sullivan in action during the fi …

It was the five-time Masters victor who went on to open up a three-frame lead after some marvellous cueing – before a simple red was missed by Hawkins in the sixth to give himself more of a mountain to climb.

“It’s up there with my best-ever performances and that’s got to be the best I’ve played on the big stage, certainly in terms of break-building”.

“I’m never normally surprised when I win tournaments”, he told BBC Sport.

But he was in excellent form in the final as Hawkins – who had lost nine times in 10 previous meetings with O’Sullivan – appeared to wilt under the pressure of his first Masters final.

“I wasn’t worn out or anything from yesterday – there was nothing in it today”.

His journey began with a 6-3 victory over Joe Perry, before a 6-2 victory over Mark Allen sent him to the semi-finals where he produced a surprise result in beating Judd Trump 6-4.

But he was quick to play down his chances in Sheffield, having only just made his return to the big time after taking time away following his quarter-final exit at the hands of Stuart Bingham in Sheffield.

“I wish he would retire, to be fair!” he said of his conqueror.

Asked where his form had come from, 36-year-old Hawkins said: “I don’t know”.

“I am butchering everything and I feel embarrassed”.

“SDLq I am over the moon with the performance”.

Trump will play Barry Hawkins at the Alexandra Palace in London in a semi-final match which starts at 13:00 GMT on Saturday.

After watching Hawkins recover to snag a close first frame, the world number eight was forced to sit and suffer for the rest of the afternoon session as O’Sullivan turned a final before 2,000 fans into a practice session.

However, he added: “If someone said I would have got to the final, I would have ripped their arm off”. A thumping long pot on the red to a baulk corner set up the chance to clear the table for victory.