Barry Hawkins has revealed he received vile abuse on social media after his World Open semi-final defeat over the weekend.

A person sent him messages telling the world number six to “get cancer” and another message told him to “please go die”. The messages also contained a number of expletives.

Hawkins, who had just lost to David Gilbert ruling him out of the World Open final, revealed the abuse he received by sending a snapshot image to his 10,000 followers on Twitter.

The Old Green Baize has decided not to publish the tweet Hawkins sent out because of the offensive language it contained from the messenger.

Barry Hawkins. Picture by Monique Limbos

The messages were met with disgust from fellow players and officials.

Fellow top 16 star Neil Robertson tweeted his support to Hawkins by saying: “This is the most pathetic rubbish I had to put up with two years ago with no consequences. It’s time these people got punished.”

It is understood World Snooker is investigating the incident.