Barry Hawkins is convinced momentum is now on his side after marching into the Masters semi-finals on Thursday evening.

Having never won a match in five previous appearances at the event, the Ditton potter followed up his first-round triumph over Joe Perry with a 6-2 victory over Mark Allen in the quarter-final at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Northern Ireland’s Allen made a classy 109 in the opening frame but Hawkins rattled off the next four – with breaks of 81, 68 and 53 in the process – before his opponent finally stopped the rot with a 58 to make it 4-2.

But the reprieve was only temporary as the Englishman won frame seven in two visits and clinched the victory with a 52, confirming that he has ended his Masters hoodoo once and for all.

“It’s a great feeling to be through to the semi-finals of such a big event, especially considering I had never won a match here before,” said Hawkins.

“Perhaps winning that first match has set me off. I’m really pleased to come through another tough match against and overall I played solidly again.

“I made a few mistakes positionally if I was to be ultra-critical but I played solidly overall.

“I had the first chance where I missed an easy red but then Mark made a hundred. I bounced straight back though and kept him out for the next few frames.

“I didn’t give him many easy chances and I’m over the moon to be through to the semi-finals.”

With a World Championship final appearance under his belt, Hawkins has proven he can win on the big stage and is now just two victories away from triumphing at a triple crown event for the first time.

And as he looks forward to a massive semi-final on Saturday, the 36-year-old believes his safety game proved decisive against Allen.

“I started getting on top a little bit and my safety was a little bit better than his. He played a few loose ones and left me chances,” added Hawkins.

“I got some chances from my safety and managed to score when I got in. There were no massive breaks but there were consistent 50s and 60s and sometimes that is all you need to do to not let your opponent play.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere in the semi-finals – it will be a full house and it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

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