McManus quick to turn on the style

Alan McManus maintained his encouraging start to the season when he began his Maplin UK Championship campaign in York

The gritty Glaswegian finds himself out of the world's top 16 for the first time since 1992 having won only one match in ranking tournaments during the 2005-06 campaign.

But he reached the semi-finals of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in October and continued his resurgence by building a 6-2 lead over compatriot Marcus Campbell in their first-round clash at the Barbican Centre.

Known more for his astute tactical play than compiling high breaks, McManus knocked in runs of 60 and 63 in the opening two frames and then kept it tight as he eased to a 6-1 advantage.

Campbell produced the highest contribution of the session in the final frame, a 120 giving him a glimmer of hope, but he will need to stage a terrific fightback tonight to keep his chances alive.

Jamie Burnett, another Scot, was also going well as he too moved 6-2 ahead of Andy Hicks.

The 31-year-old, who made the highest-ever official tournament break of 148 - starting with a free ball - in the qualifying rounds of this event two years ago, made a 78 and a 110 back to back to turn the screw on the Devonian.

Finland's Robin Hull was the only other player to eke out an advantage in the morning session, going 5-3 up on Nigel Bond.