CUE sport fans will be getting a bonus at the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship in York next month.

Eight tables will be used for the first two days of the tournament, which starts on Tuesday, November 18, and tickets for which go on sale on Sunday.

With two fewer days of play this year, 12 instead of 14, and the same number of first-round matches to fit in, the organisers for the event at the Barbican Centre are to set up a second playing arena.

The tournament was brought forward two weeks this year from its usual slot of the first two weeks in December because of BBC television schedules. Bringing the date forward means that as the Barbican is staging concerts close to the launch of the snooker the time needed to set up the venue for the championship means that it cannot begin until the Tuesday.

Barbican snooker co-ordinator Richard Batterby said that for the first two days there will be five tables in the main theatre, instead of the usual four, and three tables will be set up separately in the exhibition hall. Spectators will be able to request to see specific matches being played in the second hall.

From Thursday, November 20 play will change to four tables in the main arena. When the televised stages start on Saturday, November 22 the theatre will contain two tables until the semi-finals and final, when one table will be used.

Tickets go on sale from 10am on Sunday morning. Prices range from £5 for the early rounds to £26 for the final on Sunday, November 30.

"Tickets for the final are sure to go within a couple of days," said Batterby. "We sold 1,400 tickets in all on the first day of sale last year and we are aiming for 1,500 this time."

The world's top 32 players will be in action in York, including world and defending UK champion Mark Williams, fans' favourites Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White, plus all the other star names. None of the top 16 come into play until the televised stages starting on Saturday, November 22.

The 16 qualifiers to go into the first round draw will be known by the end of this month when the qualifying rounds have been completed.

There are concessionary prices for senior citizens, children, students and unemployed, and there are all-day tickets as well as ones for each session. There will be three sessions on each of the first two days and then two sessions each day. Friday, November 21 is a rest day so that the television equipment can be set up.

Tickets can been bought by 'phoning the Barbican box office (01904 656688), which will be open from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, 10am to 8pm weekdays and 10am to 5pm Saturdays.

Updated: 11:18 Thursday, October 09, 2003