LUCKY Kieran Brown will be hoping snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan hits the heights when York hosts the UK Championships over the next fortnight.

For the six-year-old hopes to watch his favourite player strike gold, after winning tickets to the competition's final at the Barbican Centre.

It will be a doubly special day for Kieran, of Rawcliffe, York, who will also celebrate his seventh birthday when the final takes place.

The snooker is so important to Kieran that he has had mum Clare rearrange his birthday party so nothing can get in the way of the action on the green baize.

"He has got a 6ft snooker table in his bedroom.

"He's always playing with his dad," Clare said.

"I originally got him a miniature table and he just played with it all the time.

"Now he watches it on the television and he plays in his room with his dad.

"His favourite player is Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"He was having a birthday party on the day, but the snooker comes first!"

Kieran has won four tickets to the final, and will be taking along Clare and dad Nick, along with his grandfather Ted, to see the best of 19-frame final on November 28.

He entered a competition to win the tickets in the October Half Term Fun Day brochure.

He correctly said the black ball was worth seven points.

Clare said: "He was delighted when he found out.

"He is really looking forward to it.

"He keeps asking how many days it is until his birthday.

"He is very excited and it is a fantastic present for him."

The Travis Perkins UK Championships start on Monday.

Only the World Championships, at the Crucible Theatre, in Sheffield, is a bigger snooker tournament.

This will be the fourth year in succession that York has staged the event at the Barbican Centre.

O'Sullivan's bid for glory will start on November 20, when he will meet the winner of the Stephen Maguire v Mark Davis round one clash.

A new name went on the trophy last year as Welshman Matthew Stevens gained the first ranking title of his career by defeating Stephen Hendry 10-8 in the final.

Updated: 09:29 Saturday, November 13, 2004