England's Barry Hawkins plays a shot during the World Championship Snooker semi-final match against Wales's Mark Williams at The Crucible in Sheffield, England on May 3, 2018. (LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP)

LONDON - Barry Hawkins and Mark Williams both enjoyed easy wins to reach the quarterfinals at the snooker Masters here on Tuesday.

Last year's runner-up Hawkins smashed Mark Allen 6-0, before two-time champion Williams beat David Gilbert 6-2 in the third competition day of the prestigious invitation tournament.

"Barry's safety was phenomenal," world No 5 Allen was quoted by the World Snooker Tour website. "So many times I came to the table had no shot. I said to him at the end, it was probably one of the best safety displays I have come against as a pro."

Allen won the Masters in 2018 but has since suffered five consecutive first round defeats.

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Hawkins will meet the winner between Judd Trump and Ryan Day.

Williams set up a clash with world No 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan, who outplayed Luca Brecel 6-1 on Monday.