FAMOUS players are set to follow the trail six-times world champion Steve Davis has blazed to the green baize in York's luxury new snooker club.

The plan is to have celebrity star cuemen every six months at Castle Snooker Club in Tower Street, opposite Clifford's Tower.

Davis gave the club, which opened its doors only 12 days ago, his seal of approval in front of a packed audience last night, playing frames against club members and staging a display of exhibition shots.

Those scheduled to challenge Davis at the table last night included Aligul Kala, Mal Dawson, Chris Gomersall, Gary Brownridge and Sahia Afacan.

Mal Dawson was MC and event organiser for last night's star show.

Davis was yesterday drawn to play Stephen Lee, the third seed, in the first round of the Embassy World Championship at Sheffield next month.

"Steve Davis is just the first of the star players we want to bring to the Castle Club," said owner Aligul Kala.

"Our intention is to have top-name players coming here every six months.

"The club has started well. The visitors have all been impressed with our luxury facilities and we have had many promising to become full members."

The Castle Club intend to enter two teams in the Cueball Winter League next season and will be running regular club tournaments.

Admission is free for the first three months. Membership will open on June 1, when there will be discounts such as reduced table fees for members. Day membership is also going to be made available for visitors.

The hourly table rate has been reduced from the initial £5 to £4 from now on and the eight snooker tables are soon to be repositioned to allow more playing space between them. The club also have four American pool tables.

Saturday morning coaching sessions is another venture the club plan to introduce.

Peter Ebdon will open the defence of his Embassy World Championship title against Gerard Greene, a fast potting left-hander who has risen 21 places to 42nd in the provisional world rankings this season. Greene beat Jimmy White in the European Open.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the bookmakers' favourite to regain the world crown, has a first round match against Hong Kong's Marco Fu. Yorkshire star Paul Hunter, from Leeds, plays Ali Carter, who will be making his Crucible debut.

Mark Williams, who won the UK title in York in December and heads the provisional world rankings, is up against Preston's Stuart Pettman in the first round.

Seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry plays former world No 5 Gary Wilkinson, John Higgins meets Ian McCulloch, UK beaten finalist Ken Doherty plays 20-year-old Shaun Murphy (Northants), Jimmy White is up against Thailand's James Wattana and John Parrot tackles Australian Quinten Hann.

Updated: 10:18 Saturday, March 22, 2003