Hawk preys on Ebdon
Barry Hawkins produced an emphatic 5-0 win to reach the Last 16 of the 2010 totesport.com Welsh Open in Newport
With both players needing good performances to gain vital ranking points they could have been forgiven for turning in a scrappy performance, but not a bit of it.
Hawkins, who beat Ian McCulloch 5-2 last week to qualify, flew out of the blocks, rattling in an 85 to gain the early advantage.
Ebdon, who now stands at number eighteen on the provisional rankings, only managed to pot three single reds in the second frame and Hawkins pounced with 58 to open a two frame lead.
Again Ebdon had the first chance in the third but broke down on 16. Hawkins countered with 47 and eventually got the better of an extremely long safety battle to win a forty-five minute frame.
Frame four looked to be going well for the reigning China Open champion, as Ebdon opened the frame with a run of 50, but Hawkins stepped in with a 64 clearance to steal the frame and a 4-0 lead.
Half an hour later it was all over. Ebdon broke down on 31, Hawkins nipped in with 23 and 33 to clinch victory.
The Londoner now awaits the winner of Stephen Maguire or Dominic Dale in the Last 16.
Hawkins is looking forward to that match, whoever he plays. "It's nice", he said. "I've got a couple of days off now so can come back fresh for the match."
"I came into the tournament feeling quietly confident.
"I'm looking forward to making a major breakthrough, I need to get my career back on track."
"I was surprised by the scoreline today, especially against such a hard match player as Peter."
