Mark Allen will this weekend begin his quest to win snooker’s most prestigious title outside the World Championship — and he reckons it will be a more daunting challenge than Jimmy White has been facing lately.

White, one of the most popular players the game has ever produced, has been facing up to the struggle of living in the jungle in ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’.

Allen — who reached the World Championship semi-final last season, knocking out Ronnie O’Sullivan along the way — takes on Stephen Lee on Sunday in the first round of the £750,000 UK Championship, which starts at the Telford International Centre tomorrow.

But the Antrim potter is sure that, no matter what happens in Telford, it will more than measure up to events in the ‘Jungle’ and those gruelling ‘Bushtucker Trials’.

Allen said: “A lot of the players are rooting for Jimmy, and voting to keep him in.

“It’s good publicity for Jimmy. It will be good for him in terms of whatever he does after snooker because although he still has a few years left as a player, I’m sure he’s exploring other avenues for when he retires.”

The ‘Whirlwind’ won the UK Championship back in 1992, beating John Parrott 16-9 in the final. And that victory is arguably the highlight of White’s career, which included six heartbreaking World Championship Final defeats.

Allen acknowledged that winning the UK Championship — a certain Alex Higgins was triumphant way back in 1983 — would be by far the biggest victory of his career.

The 23-year-old warmed up for the tournament by playing Northern Ireland professionals Jordan Brown and Joe Swail, before travelling to Telford where he has been practising with 2007 World Championship runner-up Mark Selby.

“It’s the most important tournament after the World Championship so I have been working hard for it,” said Allen, who after the UK Championship will contest the Masters, the Welsh Open and the China Open before the season climaxes in the World Championship at the legendary Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

“Beating Ronnie O’Sullivan in last season’s World Championship was the biggest scalp of my career so far. Ronnie is the best player out there, although John Higgins is right up there as well,” explained Allen, who lost to Higgins in the World semi-final before the Scot went on to clinch the title.

“There are several players who are good enough to win tournaments.

“I want to be competing for titles on a regular basis,” said Allen.

The Ulsterman secured his first professional title when he won the Jiangsu Classic in China in June, and he is hoping that will act as the launching pad to the game’s really big prizes.

“That was my first professional tournament victory and, although it wasn’t a ranking event, it was excellent to get that under my belt. Hopefully it’s the start of things to come.

“I want to push for a place in the world’s top eight and if I can get my first ranking title along the way that would be great,” added the World number 10.

Meanwhile, promoter Barry Hearn's has promised to revitalise snooker following complaints by some leading players about lack of tournaments and falling prize money.

Hearn is poised to be named chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) after Sir Rodney Walker was voted out earlier this week.

“There'll be more formats,” Hearn said.

“I'll try to be innovative and creative. The patient is not dead — it just needs waking up,” he maintained.

“We need a fresh approach. We need quick results and quicker entertainment,” he said.

Hearn has revived darts in recent years and is also well known for his involvement in boxing and football.