Barry Hawkins has triggered a swift response from World Snooker Tour bosses after he complained that the Crucible conditions felt like a “ping-pong table” during the World Championship on Saturday in Sheffield. The 46-year-old made the comments after beating Welsh qualifier Matthew Stevens 10-4, a result that gave him his first main-draw win since 2021. WST said its staff are working constantly to provide the best possible conditions and that players have a route to give feedback after every match.
Barry Hawkins raises concerns after 10-4 win
The complaint came after a scrappy match in which neither player made a century, with Barry Hawkins top scoring with 99. He said the cloth and cushions were making it harder to control the cue ball, and he linked the issue to the way the table was playing from day one.
Barry Hawkins said he did not like criticising the conditions because the fitters do a good job, but added that the cushions were “coming off so much quicker” than they were going on. He said that made cue-ball control difficult, especially when a player is not cueing cleanly, and added that confidence can drain away once the table begins to play fast.
World Snooker Tour stands by table staff
A World Snooker Tour spokesperson defended the team responsible for the venue setup, saying there are always challenges in delivering the best possible conditions because many factors can affect play. The spokesperson said the dedicated table fitters “work tirelessly” and are “constantly monitoring the tables. ”
The tour also said it has systems in place allowing players to give feedback after every match, indicating that Barry Hawkins complaint was heard inside the event structure rather than ignored. The response came quickly after his remarks began to draw attention during the championship.
What Barry Hawkins said about the table
Barry Hawkins said the fast-playing surface and lively cushions were hurting rhythm and making it harder to build breaks. He pointed to players stopping in their tracks when the white ball behaved unexpectedly, saying that kind of uncertainty can disrupt a frame before a big break develops.
He also said the table can reward the player who adapts quickest, naming Ronnie O’Sullivan as an example of someone who adjusts rapidly. That observation underlined the central point of Barry Hawkins complaint: once a player loses confidence in the table, shot selection becomes harder and mistakes can stack up fast.
Background and what comes next
The result marked Barry Hawkins’s first main-draw win since 2021, giving him a valuable breakthrough in a match that still left questions over the playing conditions. The immediate focus now shifts to how the table behaves later in the championship, with Barry Hawkins warning that conditions could feel even quicker after more days of play.
That is why Barry Hawkins complaint may keep echoing through the tournament if more players find the surface difficult to manage. For now, the tour has backed its staff, and the issue is likely to be watched closely as the World Championship continues in Sheffield.
