Barry Hawkins got his Welsh Open campaign off to a great start today despite some rather embarrassing moments in preparation of the tournament.

Barry Hawkins. Picture by Monique Limbos

The former World Championship finalist beat China’s Niu Zhuang 4-1 on the opening day of the annual ranking event held in Cardiff but he will certainly want to forget events from the last few days.

The word number eight revealed on Twitter recently that he went to snooker practise to get ready for the Welsh Open – only to get there and find out he left his cue which was still at home.

It meant Hawkins had to drive another 25 minutes to retrieve his cue and probably another 25 minutes to get back into the snooker hall.

And by no means was that the only incident for which Hawkins was left red faced at.

Just two days later he revealed that during his long drive to Cardiff to play in the Welsh Open he received a call from his wife to say he forgot his suitcase – meaning he had gone with no clothing at all.

Luckily for Hawkins a good friend of his came to the rescue and met him at Cobham Services on the M25 to give him his suitcase.

After today’s first round victory, Hawkins will next play Tom Ford in the last 64 stage.

Defending champion Stuart Bingham got off to a winning start beating China’s Chen Zhe. Bingham’s next opponent will be 16-year-old Welshman Jackson Page who defeated Sean O’Sullivan 4-3.

Page made the headlines at last year’s Welsh Open after he won two matches to reach the last 32 of the ranking event despite being just 15-year-old.