In their 10 previous matches Hawkins had won only once, in their first meeting during the Scottish Open in 2002.

But he took the lead after winning a scrappy opening frame in which both players passed up the opportunity to build a lead.

O’Sullivan had complained that his recent back problems had led to a level of performance in his semi-final that he was unhappy with but he levelled the final with a quick-fire 70 after a poor safety from Hawkins.

The best of the 40-year-old came through in the third when a break of 136 saw him take the lead for the first time.

The fourth frame was tighter and Hawkins missed a simple black to allow O’Sullivan to put together a lead and, despite the fact Hawkins then did well to clear the reds from the cushions he went on to miss a difficult yellow and O’Sullivan went on to win the frame with ease.

Hawkins just could not take his chances when they came his way and, after the mid-session interval, he passed up the opportunity to reduce the arrears as O’Sullivan let him in with a sloppy safety shot.

It was the five-time Masters winner who went on to open up a three-frame lead after some marvellous cueing – before a simple red was missed by Hawkins in the sixth to give himself more of a mountain to climb.

In what was becoming a regular occurrence in this final, Hawkins again let O’Sullivan take a frame he himself had the chance to win.

A missed red down the table presented a chance to O’Sullivan and he did not let it pass as he was starting to win both the comfortable and scrappy contests and leave Hawkins in the dust.

A break of 77 put O’Sullivan further ahead and, although Hawkins showed his class with a superb red potted off the green, he ended the session 7-1 down and in need of a miraculous comeback in the evening session.