NEW British Open snooker champion John Higgins may miss his opening salvo in the Travis Perkins UK Championship at the Barbican, York, because his wife is expecting a baby.

The Wizard of Wishaw starts his bid to regain the UK title with a second round match at the Barbican Centre starting at 2.30pm on Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday's first round clash between Nottingham's Michael Holt and qualifier Ricky Walden from Wales.

Higgins last night won the British title at Brighton when he beat fellow Scot Stephen Maguire 9-6 in the final and was immediately installed as one of the favourites to win in York.

But his wife Denise is due to give birth to their second child any time - in fact she is already three days overdue - and with the couple ruling out an induced delivery, Higgins, who insists he wants to attend the birth, might be unable to travel to York.

It is not known if his match against either Holt or Walden will be rescheduled.

The British victory ended Higgins' ranking title drought stretched back to the 2001 British Open in Newcastle.

Higgins said that he had reduced the length of his cue from 58 to 57 and a quarter inches and believed that had helped him recapture some of his best form.

Higgins, 29, who has won 25 pro-tournaments, 16 world-ranking events, the 1998 Embassy World Championship and total career prize money of £3.7million.

Monday night at the Barbican

First round (7pm, second session of matches which started this morning): Barry Pinches v Nigel Bond, Joe Perry v Marcus Campbell, Allister Carter v Tom Ford, Quinten Hann v Shokat Ali, Anthony Hamilton v Andy Hicks.

Tuesday's matches

First round (10am and 7pm): John Parrott v James Wattana, Michael Holt v Ricky Walden, Robert Milkins v Sean Storey, Gerard Green v Jimmy Michie, Dominic Dale v Ding Junhui.

2.30pm (second session of matches which started this afternoon): Joe Swail v Neil Robertson, Tony Drago v Mark Selby, Ian McCulloch v Barry Hawkins, Mark King v Robin Hull, Drew Henry v Ryan Day.

Snooker stars on cue in York

TEN players set the balls rolling as the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship started today at York's Barbican Centre.

This is the fourth year in succession York has hosted the second biggest tournament in snooker's calendar and over the next fortnight 48 players, including the top ranked 32, will be chasing the £70,000 first prize and trophy.

Former world finalist Nigel Bond and controversial Aussie Quinten Hann were among the ten in the first set of matches. Bond, now the world number 35, one of 16 who came through the qualifying rounds, was level 1-1 with world number 21 Barry Pinches, from Norwich. Hann trailed Shokat Ali, of Pakistan, 3-2. All matches up to and including the semi-finals are best of 17 frames.

Anthony Hamilton went 3-1 ahead of qualifier Andy Hicks. Joe Perry took a 2-0 lead over qualifier Marcus Campbell. Allister Carter went 3-2 up on qualifier Tom Ford were 2-2.

Updated: 14:57 Monday, November 15, 2004