THE world's top snooker stars shoot into York on Monday to start their quest for the coveted UK crown.

York's Barbican Centre is all set to finish with a flourish in what is the last event there before the doors close for the place to be refurbished.

Most of the players coming to the city for the Travis Perkins UK Championship have also been in action in Brighton this week at the British Open, the final of which is tomorrow night.

Among them was John Higgins who last night warmed up for his date at the Barbican with a 5-2 victory over fellow Scot Stephen Hendry to earn his first semi-final place since March 2002.

It was the first time he had beaten Hendry since March 2002

Former world finalist Nigel Bond plays in one of the first five matches at the Barbican starting at 10am on Monday.

One of the players whose first round matches start at 2.30pm on Monday has staged a fighting recovery from serious illness to stay in snooker.

When Robin Hull won his qualifying match against Adrian Gunnell at Prestatyn last month it was his first ranking tournament match for almost a year.

Hull climbed rapidly up the rankings - from No 102 to No 32 within three seasons - before being struck down late last year by a virus which affected his balance. He had to pull out of five of last season's eight ranking events.

The 30-year-old Finlander, originally from near Helsinki but now based in London, lost 80 per cent of his balance and the virus also affected his heart and lungs.

He had to have similar physiotherapy to that given to stroke victims and he still has numbness on his right side.

He couldn't even walk to a bus stop without feeling very ill and dizzy.

"It felt like I was trapped in my own body. It was very frightening," he said. "For a snooker player it was a nightmare. I couldn't get down to the table to play a shot without being physically sick.

"I am much better now, although my confidence is still a bit edgy. I didn't play a match for eight months."

Hull's first round opponent on Monday is Mark King, who he beat 9-2 in the second round at the Barbican in 2001. Their match starts at 2.30pm and finishes on Tuesday afternoon.

Monday first round matches

10am and 7pm: Barry Pinches v Nigel Bond, Joe Perry v Marcus Campbell, Allister Carter v Tom Ford, Quinten Hann v Shokat Ali, Anthony Hamilton v Andy Hicks.

2.30pm (finishing Tuesday): Joe Swail v Neil Robertson, Tony Drago v Mark Selby, Ian McCulloch v Barry Hawkins, Mark King v Robin Hull, Drew Henry v Ryan Day.

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, November 13, 2004