SHEFFIELD: The English cueist Barry Hawkins suffered a first-round exit from the ongoing World Snooker Championship after suffering a shock loss by his Welsh counterpart Jackson Page.

The 90th ranked Page pulled off an upset victory over the ninth-ranked Hawkins by the scores of 10-7 in the Best of 19.

Page was off to a flying start in his first match of the World Championship campaign by winning the first three frames including a century in the first to pull 3-0 ahead of Hawkins.

Hawkins then looked to bounce back but the two remained involved in a see-saw battle in the next four frames as both managed to claim two each.

Page’s momentum carried him to a century in the eighth frame, extending his lead to 6-2, only for Hawkins to win three straight frames and cut the margin to 6-5, including a thrilling ninth frame.

In the next four frames, the two engaged in another see-saw struggle, each winning two frames, with Hawkins scoring a century in the 13th frame.

Page then held his nerve calm and scored back to back centuries in the next two frames with his best break of 135 in the 17th frame to secure a stunning victory over the better-ranked Hawkins by 10-7.

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