Barry Hawkins through to Players Championship final with victory over Ricky Walden in semi-finals

Barry Hawkins cruised to the final of the Players Championship with an easy 6-2 win over Ricky Walden. The pair were fighting for the chance to meet the winner of the tournament’s other semi-final, with Jimmy Robertson to play his namesake Neil on Saturday night ahead of Sunday’s final.

Ad/> Walden started the strongest of the pair as he built a nice 69 break in the the opening frame, but a break of 60 in the second could not hold back Hawkins as he built a score of 70 over the course of his visits. Players ChampionshipRobertson knocks defending champion Higgins out of Players Championship5 HOURS AGO Hawkins then grabbed the next frame 84-24, and a break of 55 helped him stretch into a 3-1 lead.

Walden persisted, and a half-century break of his own reduced the deficit, but Hawkins replied with a dominant break of 115, the first century of the game. Robertson knocks defending champion Higgins out of Players Championship 'Point Break' – Matrix icon Reeves 'living the dream' flanked by snooker speed star Rocket Ronnie That left him just two frames from victory and upped the pressure on his opponent to stay in contention.

Walden however could not resist Hawkins, who made it three frames on the bounce with consistent heavy scoring, as a break of 61 in one frame and 75 the next enough to secure victory. Players ChampionshipPlayers Championship LIVE: Hawkins eases past Walden to reach final9 HOURS AGO Players ChampionshipWhen does Rocket Ronnie return to action after Players Championship exit?11 HOURS AGO