WATCH out York, here I come! That was the message from seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry as the UK Snooker Championship started its two-week run in the city today.

Hendry, who won his first major title for 27 months at the weekend, is determined to maintain his regained top form in his bid to pocket the UK title for a record equalling sixth time.

The 32-year-old Scot's opening match at the Barbican Leisure Centre starts on Wednesday at 2.30pm when he plays the winner of the first round match between Drew Henry and Alain Robidoux. Hendry's best of 17 frames second round match is due to continue on Thursday starting at 2.30pm.

After beating Joe Perry 9-2 in the European Open final in Malta on Saturday, Hendry said: "There is no point in doing well here and then going to the UK in York and playing badly. Now it's important to keep the momentum going.

"Now I have managed to win another tournament I believe I can go on from here. Winning an eighth World Championship next year is my main aim.

"It felt like the old days out there," he said after beating Perry. "It was nice to feel at home at a snooker table in a major final and produce that sort of form."

Perry, from Cambridgeshire, was playing in his first ranking tournament final. He starts his UK bid in York tomorrow at 5pm against Jamie Burnett, from Hamilton.

They key to Hendry's bounce back to form is former world champion Terry Griffiths, who is now director of coaching with a snooker management company.

"I spoke to Terry on the phone every day during the week and he has fixed some technical faults in my game," said Hendry. "I am not going to say I am going to win every tournament I play in because that's not going to happen, but I believe I am capable of winning every tournament I enter."

Hendry notched up two more centuries to take his career record to 543. The European Open was his 32nd ranking title and he is now one short of equalling the record of 73 tournament victories held by six-times world champion Steve Davis, who has won the UK title a record six times and was in first round action today at the Barbican.

Four tables, set out within temporary partitions and in a line, the audience facing one end of each table, are in use during the early stages.

First round matches are over the best of 13 frames.

Just over 80 tickets had been pre-booked for the opening session, with seating available for more than 300. Organisers were expecting quite a few spectators to turn up to buy tickets at the door.

The finishing touches to the Barbican as a snooker centre were being made yesterday, the cloths being fitted to the playing tables, the tented CueZone upstairs with snooker and pool tables for the public to use, being put into place, the players' practice room, with four tables, and their private lounge ready to welcome them.

Tickets for matches in the early rounds are still available.