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Hawkins exits "with the hump"
Barry Hawkins suffered defeat in the first round of the 888.com World Championship after falling foul of the Crucible rules.
After trailing 9-6 against Ali Carter, Hawkins reeled off three straight frames to level the match at 9-9 and a deciding frame was needed.
But with the Crucible clock showing 6.35pm, officlals called the pair off, so they could prepare the arena for the evening session and a 7pm start.
It left the duo to twiddle their thumbs until a table became free, Hawkins popping back to his flat for a bite to eat while Carter chilled in the quiet room.
And it was Carter who clinched the deciding frame for a 10-9 win and leave Hawkins cursing his luck.
"I was devastated to be honest, I can't believe they pulled us off," said Hawkins. "I know they've got rules they have to follow but at 9-9 all after all that hard work, and Ali's missing a few opportunities, to pull us off at 9-9, with half an hour to spare I think we had, I was a bit gutted.
"I had the right hump. I wasn't happy, to be fair I had the momentum then so it's a big difference. Then coming out tonight it's anybody's, as you're both coming out cold so it's quite difficult, so I'm devastated really."
Hawkins, 28, said it was the first time it had happened to him, but accepted there was no room to appeal the decision.
"They've got their rules and they follow them, it's a bit harsh considering the circumstances," he said. "I'm sure people would have understood, wait an extra 20 minutes or something. It meant so much to both of us but to be pulled off then was a bit harsh I think."
Carter was just delighted to scrape through to the second round after staring defeat in the face.
He said: "I think at 9-9 it was to my advantage that we got called off. Barry had the momentum going into that frame, but I think someone must have been looking down on me. I potted some good pressure balls in the end; it's nice to know that I can do it."
Read Richard Hercock at the Crucible by clicking here, or check out his latest Crucible blog.
And don't miss his daily reports in the Yorkshire Post newspaper.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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