Hawkins vs Oliver Sykes Prediction 17 September 2026

Barry Hawkins’ recent form over his last ten matches can be described as average, with five wins and five defeats. While he hasn’t established a clear edge in terms of results, his stats are impressive-he has compiled 21 breaks of 50 or more, including three centuries (with a high of 133). This underlines his ability to consistently create scoring opportunities at the table, even against top-tier opposition. Defensively, there are some concerns: opponents have racked up seven centuries against him and have produced more 50+ breaks (24) than Hawkins himself. However, this kind of balance is often typical for an attacking or hybrid player-someone willing to take risks to seize the initiative in a frame. In his most recent outing, Hawkins fell 1-4 to Mark Williams, but even in defeat he managed to notch a high break, showing he still possesses the firepower for extended scoring runs.

Oliver Sykes heads into this match on the back of a difficult run, with just three wins and seven losses in his last ten outings-a clear sign of his recent struggles. However, Sykes’ resilience in tight finishes remains a key asset: his latest victory was a hard-fought 4-3 comeback against Zak Surety, underlining both his fighting spirit and mental toughness in deciding frames. Statistically, though, he lags behind his opponent-registering only nine breaks over 50, no centuries (his highest break stands at just 84), while conceding twenty half-centuries and five centuries to his rivals. These numbers highlight his issues with capitalizing on early opportunities and a lack of consistency when it comes to building substantial breaks.