Barry Hawkins misses funeral to compete in UK Championship

In the UK, snooker player Barry Hawkins reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship tournament, which took place after he achieved a significant victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the opening round. This event occurred this week, while Hawkins simultaneously faced the loss of his mentor, Les Church, who passed away after a long illness. Church played a crucial role in Hawkins' snooker career, being a club-room mentor who provided Hawkins with access to practice facilities and guidance over the years. After defeating Dave Gilbert in the last-16 match, Hawkins publicly acknowledged his mentor's impact on his life and expressed sorrow for missing Church's funeral due to his commitment to the tournament. Hawkins noted that he contributed to a charity in Church's memory, emphasizing how important Church was to him as a mentor and friend. Hawkins' sentiments reflected the emotional conflict many athletes face when balancing personal loss with professional commitments. He recognized that, despite his disappointment at missing the funeral, Church would have wanted him to compete and succeed, highlighting the bond they shared in the sport of snooker.