Parrott needs six of best

John Parrott's dual role at the Travis Perkins UK Championship will be cut in half today unless he rediscovers the form that took him to the LG Cup semi-finals last month.

The former world snooker champion is destined for the BBC sofa rather than a seat in the arena at York's Barbican Centre after losing the first session of his opening match against Barry Hawkins 5-3.

However, that scoreline represents a good recovery by the world No 30, crowned UK champion for the only time 12 years ago, after being 4-0 down.

Parrott requires six of the final nine frames to qualify for the last 32 and a meeting with newly-crowned British Open champion Stephen Hendry.