YORKSHIRE star Paul Hunter's determined bid to win the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship was on track today after a tough opening victory which he likened to a scrap in the boxing ring.

"I feel like I've been nine rounds with him, though I don't know if I'd have come out the winner if it had been boxing," he said of his 9-7 second round knockout of unpredictable Aussie Quinten Hann last night at York's Barbican Centre

Hunter was light-heartedly comparing his snooker clash with Hann's venture into boxing during the summer.

In a scrappy match, Hunter led 5-2, Hann fought back to level at 5-5 and then in the 12th frame he was so annoyed with himself for missing a black when going for position on a red that he conceded the frame when only 33-7 down with six reds left and Hunter at the table.

"It's really hard to play against him," Hunter addmitted afterwards. "I know what he's going to be like but it's still tough. He's either smiling or banging his cue or something.

"It's weird. He gave me a frame when I was 26 in front with six reds on and then he's played on in the next frame after that when he needed three snookers. It's difficult to understand. But we had a bit of a laugh afterwards."

Hunter's next opponent for a place in the quarter-finals will be world number 19 Allister Carter, from Essex. That match starts at noon on Sunday, with the second session on Monday afternoon.

Carter was the surprise conqueror yesterday of Jimmy White, who conceded their second round match when 7-0 down. White said he was feeling ill.

Former world champion Ken Doherty, under the weather with a heavy cold, suffered his second successive opening match defeat in the UK Championship, losing 9-7 last night to world number 51 Andy Hicks, from Devon.

Stephen Maguire, beaten by John Higgins in the British Open final last Sunday, maintained his great form with a 9-2 first round win over Mark Davis, rounding it off with a 106 break.

He now plays Ronnie O'Sullivan on Saturday knowing that the world champion will be out to get revenge for his 6-1 defeat to the 23-year-old Scot in Brighton last week.

There is no play tomorrow as the arena is being re-rigged for television coverage starting Saturday.

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, November 18, 2004