'The Magician' Chris Melling's preparation for his debut professional season has been unusual to say the least.

"I haven't practised snooker much over the last fortnight," admitted the 22-year-old, who lost in the last 16 of the Admiral World Pool Champio-nships at Cardiff International Arena last Friday.

Added the 22-year-old from Keighley: "I am just hoping that my form comes back after I have played a match or two."

Melling, runner-up in the 1999 Bradford Snooker Cham-pionships, starts his rookie season tomorrow with a first-round clash against Mark Gray in the British Open at the Newport Centre (10.30am).

Bradford's Wayne Cooper began his debut season this morning against Glasgow's Martin Dziewialtowski, while second-season professional Craig Butler of The Clubhouse In Cue Gardens is on this afternoon against Matthew Couch.

Seasoned campaigners Jason Prince and Joe Johnson both play tonight. Prince faces England amateur international Luke Fisher and Johnson - 49 on Sunday and the oldest player in the top 64 - meets Matthew Street.

Neither Cooper nor Prince will have much time to reflect on their first matches as both are in action tomorrow in the opening round of the LG Cup (2.30pm) - Prince against Andrew Norman, and Cooper against Wayne Brown.

And completing the opening phase of the qualifying is the UK Championship, the initial four rounds of the three tournaments being played at the South Wales venue by Tuesday, August 7.

Cooper, who did superbly to qualify from the Challenge Tour last season, said: "I am quite happy with my draws, although I will have a few nerves in my first few frames. Then hopefully I will settle down."

Bramley-based Butler, 27, said: "All the matches are hard, so it is just a matter of trying to solve snooker's challenge - how to play well all the time."

Cue Gardens are at fellow Group A leaders Laisterdyke WMC A meet in the final round of matches tonight in the Tetley Team Tournament.

The winners will top the group, but the losers might have to rely on points difference to make the quarter-finals if East Ward Labour A defeat Greengates Liberal A.

Similarly in Group C, Cuedos A and Wibsey Cons battle head-to-head for the leadership. Chalks are relying on Fields losing to get through in Group D.