Barry Hawkins will be going nowhere near restaurants for as long as his run at the English Open continues.

The Ditton potter steamed into the third round in Milton Keynes after toppling Lei Peifan 4-0 on Wednesday at the behind closed doors Home Nations event.

Players require a negative coronavirus test to take part and are forced to withdraw if they have come into contact with anyone who receives a positive result, with Sam Craigie and Oliver Lines having to leave the competition because of the test and trace system.

Both players tested negative but Craigie came into contact with Stuart Carrington and Lines did the same with his father, Peter - both of whom tested positive.

World No.20 Hawkins says those stories made him think twice about leaving the hotel and that caution is the most sensible course of action.

“I haven’t really left the hotel much to be fair - I don’t really want to go to restaurants just in case the old track and trace picks you up and all of a sudden you’ve got to pull out of the tournament,” the 41-year-old said.

“I’ve been just staying in the hotel and eating in the hotel - it’s only for a few more days so hopefully I can just keep winning and hit a bit of form and who knows.

“It’s so easy and I felt so sorry for them [Sam and Oliver] - they tested negative as well. Obviously they’ve been in close contact so it’s a terrible shame.

“Oliver got off to a good start and won his first game, he’s just got back on the tour and every win matters for him.

“Getting through his first game he probably had a bit of confidence and then that happens, so I do feel really sorry for him.

“Financially as well, he’s trying to make his way in the game, he’s had a tough couple of seasons, fell off the tour, got back on so wants to make an impact.

“When stuff like that happens you’ve got to feel sorry for him because he’s young and up and coming.

“Obviously with the Sam Craigie situation you might as well not put yourself in that position for a few days. That way nothing can happen and you can stay in the tournament, which is the most important.”

2013 World Championship finalist Hawkins made breaks of 73 and 66 at the Marshall Arena and will now meet Joe O’Connor in the last 32 on Wednesday.

It’s a rapid turnaround for the Kent potter but he reckons he can use the momentum to his advantage in the behind closed doors format.

“I don’t mind the quick turnaround - I’m up at the crack of dawn anyway so I’ll get up, have a bit of breakfast, no hanging about and go straight onto it and prepare properly,” he added.

“It’s alright [no fans] - everyone’s saying with the lack of crowds and people watching it’s quite hard but you’d rather the tournament go ahead than not.”

*Watch the snooker English Open live on Eurosport, Eurosport app and Quest.

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