THE king of UK snooker and the Yorkshireman keen to snatch the crown crossed swords when they met in the centre of York ahead of wielding cues in the city next month.

The fact that Welshman Matthew Stevens and Leeds star Paul Hunter are close friends did not stop them donning Viking costume and staging a mock sword fight at Clifford's Tower.

That was all in fun, but it will be a different story when they return to York to play in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican starting on November 15.

Stevens, who knocked out Hunter in the quarter-finals last year, came from 4-0 down to beat Stephen Hendry in the final for his first ranking title.

A few weeks later Stevens became a father for the first time but his career form has slumped.

In the first ranking tournament of the new season, the Totesport Grand Prix at Preston, he went out in the first round to Andy Hicks.

"Becoming a father does make a difference and I've had a few sleepless nights and my preparation hasn't been as good but I'm not using that as an excuse," he said.

"I've run into players playing really well against me.

"But I'll always give it 100 per cent and that's all I can do. I am going to give it my best shot."

Hunter, on the other hand, is in tremendous form, having reached the Grand Prix final, when he lost to the seemingly unstoppable Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"This is probably the best start to a season I have had. OK, I got beat and there is only one person goes away from a tournament happy and that's the winner.

"These tournaments that are played over longer frames (the UK is best of 17 up to the best of 19 final) are not that long to be honest.

"It's still a race to nine, really. You have to get off to a good start because the other players are so good now."

Hunter said reaching the quarter-last year was his best performance in the UK Championship in the three years it has been in York.

"I've been to a UK semi-final before but not at the Barbican. I'd like to win any ranking tournament, but the UK would be great."

The final on Sunday, November 28 is sold out, all tickets being snapped up within half an hour of them going on sale. The second semi-final, on Saturday, November 27 is sold out and all tickets for the evening session of the first semi-final, on Friday, November 26, have gone. There are some tickets left for the afternoon session of the Friday semi-final.

Demand for semi-final and final tickets is so great that the balcony might be opened for seating, as in previous years. If any unallocated additional tickets for the balcony become available, details will be announced later.

All tickets for the first session of play on Saturday, November 20 - the first televised day - are sold out. Tickets are still available for all sessions in the earlier rounds.

Updated: 10:43 Tuesday, October 26, 2004