Shropshire sports fans have been urged to back the county’s premier event of the year – or risk the prospect of losing it for 2009.

Snooker’s UK Championships head to the Telford International Centre, with the game’s leading lights including Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Selby all competing in the tournament which gets underway a week today.

Adrian Gunnell was today continuing his quest to provide some home interest in snooker’s second biggest tournament by taking part in the first of potentially two qualifying matches in Sheffield.

Matthew Selt was Gunnell’s opponent with six-times world champion Steve Davis awaiting the winner on Monday.

But regardless of whether he is successful, Telford-based Gunnell has urged the county public to back the event, just as they did 12 months ago when O’Sullivan was successful.

“It’s brilliant that Telford has got such a big tournament again and great for the county,” said the 36-year-old from Dawley.

“All the players and officials really enjoyed coming here last year and all the feedback I got when I asked people what they thought was positive.

“There were good crowds and it’s important again this year that the good crowds are drawn in.

“The tournament was only moved from the Barbican Centre in York because they had a revamp there and I think that has finished now so they will be keen to get the tournament back.”

Former Masters champion Alan McManus remains on course to be in Telford next week after reaching the final qualifying round with a 9-4 triumph over Welshman Jamie Jones.

But Jimmy White is in a spot of bother in his penultimate qualifying round match.

The Whirlwind – who has won each of the two games he has had to play already this week 9-8 – trails Rory McLeod 5-3 in a match due to resume this afternoon.

As well as Davis, three more ex-world champions – Ken Doherty, Mark Williams and John Parrott – will attempt to book their place in Shropshire before the qualifiers end on Monday.