More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Barry Hawkins wants cueing confidence as an early Christmas present after a tame 6-3 defeat to Mark Selby sent him out of the UK Championship.
The Ditton potter managed a highest break of 58 as three-time world champion Selby reeled off three centuries to progress serenely to the last eight in Milton Keynes.
Hawkins, yet to reach the quarter-finals of the first five tournaments staged in the World Snooker bubble, hopes to get back on the horse in next week's Scottish Open.
"I'll go back to the practice table, that's all you can do. It's just about getting the confidence back," said the 41-year-old.
"There are two more tournaments to go before Christmas, so it's the last push.
"The Scottish Open is best of seven, a really short format, so I'll have to get off to good start and hopefully I can put a run of results together.
"I'm not feeling too confident at the moment, although I've played reasonably well this week.
"I didn't come to the table against Mark confident in myself - I kept fighting but Mark kept me cold and played some good safety."
It has been a lean couple of years for Hawkins in ranking tournaments, last reaching the last eight of an event at the European Masters in January.
The Kent cueman struggled to score heavily and Selby reeled off a 121 break in the first frame to set an ominous tone.
Hawkins responded in typically battling fashion with a frame-winning visit for 58 but it would prove his only decisive break of the match.
He pulled a frame back to make it 3-2 but back-to-back centuries from Selby put paid to his Triple Crown challenge.
"Mark played well and I didn't really score heavily enough," said Hawkins.
"It was a little bit disappointing. I didn't really settle, or get used to the table either. I struggled around a little bit. I felt like I was fighting all the time when I had my chance.
"The balls weren't perfect for scoring, I was trying to fight to get them open. Mark deserved to win because he played far better than I did."
Hawkins is back in action in the Scottish Open, facing Stuart Carrington in the first round on Monday night.
Watch the UK Championship Live on Eurosport and Eurosport app. Follow all the latest tournament news on Eurosport.co.uk
