JOE PERRY will be watched by a VIP for the first time when he plays his second round Betway UK Championship clash on Saturday night - his nine-year-old daughter.

The two-time semi-finalist at the York Barbican needed no extra motivation to demolish James Wattana 6-1 in the main arena than knowing a victory would mean Lexie would see him perform.

"She is coming up for the weekend with my mum - Christmas shopping - and she has never seen me play before so this was a bit more important for that," Perry explained.

"I wanted her to be here for Saturday night to watch me play for the first time.

"I think she is more excited about the Christmas shopping, to be honest, but it will be nice to have her here for the weekend. It's the first time I have ever done it so I am looking forward to that."

The tenth seed had identified Wattana, twice a ranking event winner in his prime, as a potential banana skin but the 41-year-old was always in control - helped by breaks of 96, 70 and 55 - even if he did suffer one of his less memorable moments as a snooker player.

Perry added: "It was all right. It was decent enough. There were a few unforced errors, a few silly misses, a couple of good clearances and I think I missed the easiest ball I have ever missed as a professional.

"It was over the hole. I made 40-something. James came to the table, made a mistake and it was over the pocket. I was in three or four different minds and I forgot to pot the red. It was literally two inches from the pocket. It made me laugh anyway.

"I know James is a class act. He has won ranking events and that is no mean feat. I knew I had to be careful and I couldn't take him too lightly. I put a decent performance in. It was solid enough and I felt that, if the match had gone closer, I could have just tightened and upped my game a bit more.

"It was nice to have that in reserve."

On his prospects at the game's second biggest event, he said: "I am confident of doing well in every tournament if my form is there. It's just so tough today. All these players are so match sharp. You have only got to miss a few balls, a few things to go against you, and it can just disappear from nowhere.

"You think you are in control and the next thing you are in the car on your way home. You have got to have your wits about you but I am comfortable in my own place at the moment.

"I am happy how I am playing and I feel good."

Mark King was the first top-64 seed to lose on the second day when he went out 6-5 to Ross Muir.

The Scot prevailed with the help of a top break of 84 and managed to put together a vital 42 in the final frame.

He said: “I’m delighted to win. I made a few basic errors but I kept my focus and played a good last frame. In the last few weeks I’ve been working on blocking everything out whether it’s a practise match or the UK Championship – I treat every ball the same. It seems to be working so far.”

Ali Carter didn't suffer the same fate as King. The Captain edged past Alfie Burden 6-4.