World number 19 Barry Hawkins leads 23-time ranking event winner Judd Trump 5-3 after the first session of the BetVictor European Masters final in Nuremberg, needing just four more frames to clinch the title.
The Hawk is appearing in his second consecutive European Masters final. The three-time ranking event winner was defeated 9-3 in last year’s title match against Kyren Wilson, but his strong start this afternoon has ensured a different complexion on the current final.
Victory for Hawkins this evening would see him lift ranking silverware for the first time since the 2017 World Grand Prix. Trump has gone over a year without a ranking crown, his drought dates back to the 2022 Turkish Masters.
Hawkins took the opening two frames this afternoon with Trump claiming the third to pull within one at 2-1. However, Hawkins came from behind to take the last before the mid-session to lead 3-1 at the interval.
When play resumed the standard moved up a gear, Trump firing in a century run of 108 to pull within a frame. Hawkins replied with 94 to restore his two frame cushion, but Trump fired in his second century with a break of 107 to make it 4-3. The Ace in the Pack looked in control of the final frame after constructing a break of 60. Hawkins clawed his way back into contention and stole the frame on the black to emerge from the session 5-3 up.
They return to play the best of 17 encounter to a conclusion this evening from 8pm CEST.
