After a pair of second round exits in the opening two rankings events of the 2013–14 season, Hawkins levelled his quarter-final match against Mark Selby at the Shanghai Masters with a 140 break and then won the deciding frame to progress. In the semi-finals he was unable to match Ding Junhui's form as he was beaten 6–2. In a deciding frame against Shaun Murphy, Hawkins potted seven reds and seven blacks but had to make do with a break of 70 to take the match and reach the quarter-finals of the UK Championship for the first in his career. Hawkins led Selby 5–3, but went on to be beaten 6–5. In the semi-finals of the Welsh Open he lost 6–2 against Ronnie O'Sullivan.