Day 1 UK Snooker Championship Highlights

The UK Champion, brilliant! Any one of those great champions,

plus a host of others could win this William Hill United Kingdom

championship. Snooker's second most important event. Back here in York

after a five-year absence, we're here for a new shortened format.

For over the years it's been best of 17 frames with two sessions up

until the semi-finals but this year, best of 11 frames, one session.

That on this opening day led to all sorts of drama and close calls,

especially for defending champion, The reigning world champion, John

Higgins. What a golden opportunity is left

(APPLAUSE) John Higgins, world champion, in

trouble, against the Highlander, John Higgins is looking for one

more frame. (APPLAUSE)

A miss at a vital time. He squared it well. Where is the red going?

Not another fluke! (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

He smiles. He is thinking what's On Table 2 Mark Davis was one shot

There was another decider. Mark once again missed a chance for

glory as the pressures of the final frame started to show.

(APPLAUSE) Then they rubbed salt into the wounds as he fluked his

I'm gutted because I think I probably should have got that one.

I don't think I played well. This time you're lucky, next time maybe

not. I need to practise and come back.

Later on in the day it was clearer cut for Neil Robert son the former

world champion from Australia. He won two minor events this season

and looks nicely limbered up for a crack at this title.

I was playing bad today. In terms of performance I thought it was

pretty poor really for myself. I think we've been playing better

than that throughout the whole year. So you know, I have a few days now

to practise and get a bit better. And Robert son knows he will next

face Graham after the Scott won a I scored really heavy. It was quite

good. So really happy. It's very convincing for him today,

but so too this evening's match, one of which featured a man who won

this UK title no fewer than five times, Steven Hendry. After scoring

out of the top 16, the unthinkable happened. Stephen had to prequalify

for the major event for the first time in 23 years. He's done it,

though. I wouldn't say it's the best

experience of my life. I wouldn't say I was looking forward it to it,

but I played quite solid. Obviously knew the importance of the match.

And the win was important, playing well was secondary.

When you're out at 16 you're in danger of not being at venues.

was the big thing. Looking forward to playing at York again. Obviously

there's a lot of tradition with the UK Championship being the second

biggest event. I think that the best thing is having a decent

session, you know you will have a tough match when you get through,

you're in the top 16. So looking forward to being in the tournament.

So, -- Hendry and Maguire walks out to what looks like the intrigueing

-- most intriguing matches. It was Maguire who raceed to a 2-0 lead.

Hendry. I've got to give you a stat before

he plays his long-pot success, he's (APPLAUSE)

next shot. plays the blue he has to be careful

-- miss it. Nice kiss on the red.

He couldn't have had a better kiss. (APPLAUSE)

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In the last frame, he didn't take need to explain what it is, it's

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these two awkward reds near the top it's just off the cushion. Got to

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always say you never settle until you get your first frame on the

scoreboard. He missed a golden opportunity to

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What an error from Stephen Maguire. You can see the obvious problem,

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I don't think he can refuse it, can side of the table, shouting. They

I think he may have been going in the middle now.

There's been some remarkable frames here. Tension, excitement.

APPLAUSE. It looks for all money, 4-1, Ken

Maginnis. CHEERING

It's only 3-2, Stephen Hendry hanging on in there. He's one frame

Hendry won the next to make it even-Stephens pardon the pun. Now

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Needed a full Balkan non-on the red, Excellent positional shot from

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the yellow, he goes 68 points in back to the table.

The second century break of the evening now for Stephen. 122 in the

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Maybe he was getting up seat set in He made 122 in the first frame. He

that was all right it. He regains the lead with a marvellous break of

Glimpses of the form that earned him the nickname "on fire Maguire".

He could go into the red, but there's three or four reds then out

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in the open. A matter of pace and the black. Maybe he will play a

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black into play it will be to see whether he should knock the

two reds open. you have to trust a bit of luck.

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Well, he managed to sneak the red he would win the frame at this

first and one in the seventh frame but I think he'd be more pleased

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Yes, on the face of it, it's, I don't think these frames tell the

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Very well played. Tim Henman leaving the arena. He's got a lot

to do, with Stephen Maguire leading five frames to three. He's one

frame away from a place in the Maguire reeled off a sixth frame to

take it 6-3. He will now face John Higgins on Tuesday evening.

As for Tim Henman -- Stephen Hendry will be back, but with us with the

TV team. The five-time champion is out t2004 champion marches on.

High quality. I think there was a lot of safety play and it was good

staff. -- stuff. I'm playing better, but Stephen played solidly and

punished the mistakes I made. I know what it takes to win a

tournament and it's stilt early days. I'm not contemplating

trophies now. I will see what happens after John.

Also this evening a match took place against the background of

trauma and sadness, because Welshman Matthew Stevens was up

against Marcus Campbell, but earlier this afternoon, Marcus'

great friend who travelled with him and also travelled with him on the

circuit collapsed and died in the hotel room this afternoon.

It was an extremely courageous decision in the circumstances for

Marcus to play on this evening and that he did. Everyone more

incredible that he gave a good aaccount of himself in the early

part. It was two frames all at the interval.

Stevens pulled away to go 4-2. We will dip into this in Frame 7. It's

previous frame. That is a tremendous shot to get that much

spin on the ball. Overdone it. late great... The late great Paul

Hunter came into the game at the first time and in two tournaments

on the trot, had Matthew Stevens on one and Paul Hunter on the next.

They slaughtered me. I knew those heights. I'm sure he would have

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Though there's loads of reds open. 60 from here. That's the art of

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breakbuilding. Bring them into play are not particularly in great form

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O'Sullivan, but never as opener the fifth frame. Marcus had a good

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He'll be thinking of trying to set necessarily on the cushion. To get

some work into the cue ball, he can century. This was compiled

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long red he potted and screwed into Wonderful exhibition from Marcus

Stevens. -- Matthew Stevens. A tremendous performance from

Matthew there. He went on to win this 6 frames to two, but as we say,

in desperately sad circumstances. Our thoughts with Marcus and his

friends. More snooker for you from Day 1. We