Kent’s Barry Hawkins flew to victory on the first day of the PTC Snooker Grand Finals in Galway on Tuesday.

An opening round 4-0 defeat of China’s Li Hang sees Barry Hawkins take his place in the Last 16 of the prestigious £300,000 event.

Hawkins remains on course to lift the £100,000 winner’s cheque.

The next challenge for the Dartford cueist will be former World Champion Neil Robertson, from Australia.

Apart from attempting to lift the Trophy on Sunday night, the vital ranking points are also a major consideration for Hawkins.

He explains “I’m in the Top 16 at the moment and need to stay there for the seeding for the World Championship.”

“There’s one or two players, like Mark Davis who could knock me out, but as long as I keep winning I’ll be okay.”

“It will be a great relief not to have to go through the qualifying round for the Crucible.”

With more points safely banked Hawkins now sits at number 13 on the ranking list.

His nearest challengers have failed to gain ground on him and that just leaves the China Open to be played before the seeding is decided for the World Championship.

Hawkins takes to the table again, in the Last 16 against Neil Robertson at 10.00am on Friday 15 March.

Every match is being shown live on Eurosport in more than 70 countries.

Also Chinese and Asian television stations show comprehensive live coverage as the full focus of more than 30 million snooker fans avidly devour the thrilling culmination of the PTC season.

There is additional live streaming via the internet with a huge number of people watching via Betting site feeds, and the official World Snooker feeds.

Photo courtesy of Monique Limbos