ONE of the three players new to York among the 16 qualifiers in this year's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship which started today faces a specially tough baptism.

Teenager Mark Allen, from Antrim, plays last year's surprise finalist David Gray tomorrow in the first round at York Barbican Centre.

Despite reaching the UK final a year ago, when he slumped 10-1 to Stephen Maguire, Gray had a poor season and fell 12 places in the world rankings to 26.

But the 26-year-old from Surrey made a 147 maximum break in his second round 9-3 win over Mark Selby last year.

That feat earned him £31,000 - £25,000 for a maximum plus £6,000 for the tournament's highest break.

Allen, at 19 the second youngest player in York this year (18-year-old Chinese rising star Ding Junhui is the youngest), won the European U19 title earlier this year. Tomorrow's winner faces snooker legend Steve Davis on Thursday in the second round.

Shaun Murphy, the Rotherham-based world champion, makes his debut in York on Saturday. Murphy, who became the lowest-ranked player to win the world title when he triumphed in Sheffield in May, has never got through the UK qualifying rounds.

As world champion he takes his place in the York line-up and starts with a second round match against Nigel Bond or Dave Harold.

The other newcomer to the Barbican Centre is 20-year-old Jamie Cope, from Stoke, joint 82 with Allen in the world rankings, Nicknamed 'Shotgun' for his speed around the table, he made a 151 break in practice two years ago, with a free ball as an extra red.

Cope was in action today against Allister Carter, the world No 15 from Essex who reached the quarter-finals last year before losing to Joe Perry.

The 16 qualifiers also include Basildon's Stuart Bingham, who made a 147 maximum in a Masters tournament qualifying match on November 22.

The full list of 16 qualifiers is: Mark Allen, Stuart Bingham, Jamie Burnett, Jamie Cope, Dominic Dale, Mark Davis, Ryan Day, Gerard Greene, Dave Harold, Drew Henry, Michael Judge, Ding Junhui, Rory McLeod, Stuart Pettman, Joe Swail, and Ricky Walden.

There's a total of up to £525,000 prize money in the pot at this year's championship.

As well as the trophy, the winner will take home a cheque for £70,000, while the runner-up gets £35,000.

The highest break and maximum break prizes come into play from the second round starting on Wednesday.

A maximum break is worth £25,000, the highest break £6,000.

Should more than one player get a maximum or highest break the money will be shared.

A maximum break is either a 147 (15 reds, 15 blacks) or a 155 (16 reds, 16 blacks, ie including a free ball).

There is prize money right down to the last 64, including players who won in the later qualifying rounds.

Take your pick

RONNIE O'Sullivan is favourite to win this year's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican Centre, York.

The odds issued by bookmakers Ladbrokes are:

9-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan; 5-1 John Higgins, Stephen Hendry; 10-1 Shaun Murphy; 12-1 Matthew Stevens; 14-1 Stephen Maguire; 20-1 Mark Williams; 33-1 Ding Junhui, Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon; 40-1 Barry Hawkins, Neil Robertson; 50-1 Ian McCulluch, Paul Hunter; 66-1 Allister Carter, Jimmy White, Steven Lee; 80-1 Alan McManus, Gerard Greene, Graeme Dott, Joe Swail, Ryan Day; 100-1 Andy Hicks, Anthony Hamilton, Jamie Cope, Joe Perry, Mark Allen, Mark King, Ricky Walden, Stuart Bingham; 125-1 Marco Fu; 150-1 Barry Pinches, David Gray, Michael Holt, Michael Judge, Steve Davis; 200-1 Dave Harold, Dominic Dale, Robert Milkins; 250-1 Drew Henry, John Parrott; 300-1 Mark Davis; 500-1 James Wattana, Jamie Burnett, Nigel Bond, Quinten Hann, Rory McLeod, Stuart Pettman.

Updated: 11:05 Monday, December 05, 2005