:01:29. > :01:34.The UK Champion, brilliant! Any one of those great champions,
:01:35. > :01:39.plus a host of others could win this William Hill United Kingdom
:01:39. > :01:44.championship. Snooker's second most important event. Back here in York
:01:44. > :01:51.after a five-year absence, we're here for a new shortened format.
:01:51. > :01:55.For over the years it's been best of 17 frames with two sessions up
:01:55. > :02:00.until the semi-finals but this year, best of 11 frames, one session.
:02:00. > :02:10.That on this opening day led to all sorts of drama and close calls,
:02:10. > :02:11.
:02:11. > :02:21.especially for defending champion, The reigning world champion, John
:02:21. > :02:29.
:02:29. > :02:39.Higgins. What a golden opportunity is left
:02:39. > :02:42.
:02:42. > :02:52.(APPLAUSE) John Higgins, world champion, in
:02:52. > :03:06.
:03:06. > :03:10.trouble, against the Highlander, John Higgins is looking for one
:03:10. > :03:20.more frame. (APPLAUSE)
:03:20. > :03:27.
:03:27. > :03:37.A miss at a vital time. He squared it well. Where is the red going?
:03:37. > :03:41.
:03:41. > :03:51.Not another fluke! (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
:03:51. > :04:06.
:04:06. > :04:14.He smiles. He is thinking what's On Table 2 Mark Davis was one shot
:04:14. > :04:20.There was another decider. Mark once again missed a chance for
:04:20. > :04:23.glory as the pressures of the final frame started to show.
:04:23. > :04:33.(APPLAUSE) Then they rubbed salt into the wounds as he fluked his
:04:33. > :04:40.I'm gutted because I think I probably should have got that one.
:04:40. > :04:44.I don't think I played well. This time you're lucky, next time maybe
:04:44. > :04:50.not. I need to practise and come back.
:04:50. > :04:55.Later on in the day it was clearer cut for Neil Robert son the former
:04:55. > :05:01.world champion from Australia. He won two minor events this season
:05:01. > :05:08.and looks nicely limbered up for a crack at this title.
:05:08. > :05:11.I was playing bad today. In terms of performance I thought it was
:05:11. > :05:15.pretty poor really for myself. I think we've been playing better
:05:15. > :05:24.than that throughout the whole year. So you know, I have a few days now
:05:24. > :05:34.to practise and get a bit better. And Robert son knows he will next
:05:34. > :05:40.
:05:40. > :05:45.face Graham after the Scott won a I scored really heavy. It was quite
:05:45. > :05:49.good. So really happy. It's very convincing for him today,
:05:49. > :05:55.but so too this evening's match, one of which featured a man who won
:05:55. > :06:00.this UK title no fewer than five times, Steven Hendry. After scoring
:06:00. > :06:05.out of the top 16, the unthinkable happened. Stephen had to prequalify
:06:05. > :06:08.for the major event for the first time in 23 years. He's done it,
:06:08. > :06:12.though. I wouldn't say it's the best
:06:12. > :06:17.experience of my life. I wouldn't say I was looking forward it to it,
:06:17. > :06:22.but I played quite solid. Obviously knew the importance of the match.
:06:22. > :06:25.And the win was important, playing well was secondary.
:06:25. > :06:30.When you're out at 16 you're in danger of not being at venues.
:06:30. > :06:34.was the big thing. Looking forward to playing at York again. Obviously
:06:34. > :06:41.there's a lot of tradition with the UK Championship being the second
:06:41. > :06:43.biggest event. I think that the best thing is having a decent
:06:43. > :06:49.session, you know you will have a tough match when you get through,
:06:49. > :06:59.you're in the top 16. So looking forward to being in the tournament.
:06:59. > :07:00.
:07:00. > :07:09.So, -- Hendry and Maguire walks out to what looks like the intrigueing
:07:09. > :07:19.-- most intriguing matches. It was Maguire who raceed to a 2-0 lead.
:07:19. > :07:42.
:07:42. > :07:52.Hendry. I've got to give you a stat before
:07:52. > :07:52.
:07:52. > :08:02.he plays his long-pot success, he's (APPLAUSE)
:08:02. > :08:16.
:08:16. > :08:26.next shot. plays the blue he has to be careful
:08:26. > :08:28.
:08:28. > :08:33.-- miss it. Nice kiss on the red.
:08:33. > :08:43.He couldn't have had a better kiss. (APPLAUSE)
:08:43. > :08:43.
:08:43. > :10:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:10:40. > :10:50.In the last frame, he didn't take need to explain what it is, it's
:10:50. > :10:50.
:10:50. > :11:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:11:43. > :11:53.these two awkward reds near the top it's just off the cushion. Got to
:11:53. > :11:53.
:11:53. > :12:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:12:43. > :12:48.always say you never settle until you get your first frame on the
:12:48. > :12:58.scoreboard. He missed a golden opportunity to
:12:58. > :12:58.
:12:58. > :14:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:14:07. > :14:17.What an error from Stephen Maguire. You can see the obvious problem,
:14:17. > :14:17.
:14:17. > :16:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:16:40. > :16:50.I don't think he can refuse it, can side of the table, shouting. They
:16:50. > :17:05.
:17:05. > :17:09.I think he may have been going in the middle now.
:17:09. > :17:19.There's been some remarkable frames here. Tension, excitement.
:17:19. > :17:33.
:17:33. > :17:41.APPLAUSE. It looks for all money, 4-1, Ken
:17:41. > :17:47.Maginnis. CHEERING
:17:47. > :17:57.It's only 3-2, Stephen Hendry hanging on in there. He's one frame
:17:57. > :17:58.
:17:58. > :18:08.Hendry won the next to make it even-Stephens pardon the pun. Now
:18:08. > :18:08.
:18:08. > :22:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:22:45. > :22:55.Needed a full Balkan non-on the red, Excellent positional shot from
:22:55. > :22:55.
:22:55. > :27:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:27:14. > :27:21.the yellow, he goes 68 points in back to the table.
:27:21. > :27:31.The second century break of the evening now for Stephen. 122 in the
:27:31. > :27:31.
:27:31. > :29:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:29:11. > :29:21.Maybe he was getting up seat set in He made 122 in the first frame. He
:29:21. > :29:57.
:29:57. > :30:07.that was all right it. He regains the lead with a marvellous break of
:30:07. > :30:10.
:30:10. > :30:20.Glimpses of the form that earned him the nickname "on fire Maguire".
:30:20. > :30:48.
:30:48. > :30:58.He could go into the red, but there's three or four reds then out
:30:58. > :30:58.
:30:58. > :32:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:32:01. > :32:11.in the open. A matter of pace and the black. Maybe he will play a
:32:11. > :32:11.
:32:11. > :35:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:35:04. > :35:14.black into play it will be to see whether he should knock the
:35:14. > :35:31.
:35:31. > :35:41.two reds open. you have to trust a bit of luck.
:35:41. > :35:41.
:35:41. > :36:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:36:41. > :36:51.Well, he managed to sneak the red he would win the frame at this
:36:51. > :37:25.
:37:25. > :37:35.first and one in the seventh frame but I think he'd be more pleased
:37:35. > :37:35.
:37:35. > :38:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:38:18. > :38:28.Yes, on the face of it, it's, I don't think these frames tell the
:38:28. > :38:28.
:38:28. > :39:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:39:33. > :39:38.Very well played. Tim Henman leaving the arena. He's got a lot
:39:38. > :39:46.to do, with Stephen Maguire leading five frames to three. He's one
:39:46. > :39:51.frame away from a place in the Maguire reeled off a sixth frame to
:39:51. > :39:59.take it 6-3. He will now face John Higgins on Tuesday evening.
:39:59. > :40:08.As for Tim Henman -- Stephen Hendry will be back, but with us with the
:40:08. > :40:11.TV team. The five-time champion is out t2004 champion marches on.
:40:11. > :40:19.High quality. I think there was a lot of safety play and it was good
:40:19. > :40:24.staff. -- stuff. I'm playing better, but Stephen played solidly and
:40:24. > :40:34.punished the mistakes I made. I know what it takes to win a
:40:34. > :40:38.tournament and it's stilt early days. I'm not contemplating
:40:38. > :40:43.trophies now. I will see what happens after John.
:40:43. > :40:48.Also this evening a match took place against the background of
:40:48. > :40:51.trauma and sadness, because Welshman Matthew Stevens was up
:40:51. > :40:55.against Marcus Campbell, but earlier this afternoon, Marcus'
:40:55. > :40:59.great friend who travelled with him and also travelled with him on the
:40:59. > :41:02.circuit collapsed and died in the hotel room this afternoon.
:41:02. > :41:06.It was an extremely courageous decision in the circumstances for
:41:06. > :41:10.Marcus to play on this evening and that he did. Everyone more
:41:10. > :41:15.incredible that he gave a good aaccount of himself in the early
:41:15. > :41:21.part. It was two frames all at the interval.
:41:21. > :41:31.Stevens pulled away to go 4-2. We will dip into this in Frame 7. It's
:41:31. > :41:40.
:41:40. > :41:50.previous frame. That is a tremendous shot to get that much
:41:50. > :42:25.
:42:25. > :42:29.spin on the ball. Overdone it. late great... The late great Paul
:42:29. > :42:36.Hunter came into the game at the first time and in two tournaments
:42:36. > :42:46.on the trot, had Matthew Stevens on one and Paul Hunter on the next.
:42:46. > :42:47.
:42:47. > :42:57.They slaughtered me. I knew those heights. I'm sure he would have
:42:57. > :42:57.
:42:57. > :43:37.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:43:37. > :43:47.Though there's loads of reds open. 60 from here. That's the art of
:43:47. > :43:47.
:43:47. > :45:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:45:39. > :45:49.breakbuilding. Bring them into play are not particularly in great form
:45:49. > :45:49.
:45:49. > :46:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:46:40. > :46:50.O'Sullivan, but never as opener the fifth frame. Marcus had a good
:46:50. > :46:50.
:46:50. > :47:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:47:54. > :48:04.He'll be thinking of trying to set necessarily on the cushion. To get
:48:04. > :48:06.
:48:06. > :48:16.some work into the cue ball, he can century. This was compiled
:48:16. > :48:16.
:48:16. > :49:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 117 seconds
:49:21. > :49:31.long red he potted and screwed into Wonderful exhibition from Marcus
:49:31. > :49:36.
:49:36. > :49:40.Stevens. -- Matthew Stevens. A tremendous performance from
:49:40. > :49:48.Matthew there. He went on to win this 6 frames to two, but as we say,
:49:48. > :49:55.in desperately sad circumstances. Our thoughts with Marcus and his
:49:55. > :50:01.friends. More snooker for you from Day 1. We