SNOOKER hero Alex Higgins will be re-launching his match career when he comes to York early next year.

The 54-year-old Irishman will play his old rival Jimmy White over 11 frames at the Barbican Centre on Saturday, February 28.

It is the first of a series of celebrity matches between the two people's favourites scheduled to take place round the country.

"This is Alex putting his toe in the water," promoter Martin Witts explained the twice former world champion's return to the public arena after several years absence.

Higgins has already done two one-man exhibition appearances at Hull and Featherstone, but his York date will be the beginning of the 'Hurricane's' match series against the 'Whirlwind'.

It has all been triggered by a play called 'Hurricane' which has proved a smash hit with the public. Written by Richard Dormer, who plays Higgins, it tells the story of the Irish star's often turbulent life.

Higgins was initially unhappy that the play was being staged and wanted to take court action to stop it, but when he turned up to see it performed in his native Belfast he enjoyed it, so much so that he made contact with Witts, who has now organised the player's comeback.

The production, by playwright's wife Rachel O'Riordan, won Best Play award at this year's Edinburgh Festival and Dormer won the award for Best Actor at the Festival. It moves to the West End from January 12 to February 7 at the Soho Theatre.

The Barbican celebrity night will also feature Yorkshire professional Jimmy Michie performing trick shots. The big match between White and Higgins will be refereed by professional official Jan Verhaas, a top-flight referee at world ranking events. The master of ceremonies will be Alan Hughes, who was the master of ceremonies at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York last month.

Although Higgins has been away from the match scene for some years, battling with throat cancer, he retains a loyal following of fans. The 41-year-old White, six times losing finalist in the Embassy World Champion, is still on the world's top 16 and had massive support when he got to the UK semi-finals this year.

The Irishman, world champion in 1972 and 1982, had hoped to play competitively again last year, entering the qualifying stages of the world and UK championships but having to withdraw for health reasons. He is now looking fit and healthy and has put on a stone in weight.

Witts said that Higgins hopes to rebuild his confidence during his tour, which after York moves on to appearances at Belfast, Brighton, Plymouth, Bournemouth and Preston.

Tickets for the Barbican show are priced £15.50, £17.50 and £27.50. The top price includes a table-side seat and meeting the players during the refreshment interval.

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, December 20, 2003