ALEX HIGGINS BACK IN ACTION

Snooker legend Alex Higgins returns to competitive action later this month for the VC Poker Irish Professional Championship in Dublin.

Higgins, 58, faces former British Open champion Fergal O’Brien in the first round at the Spawell Club,Templelogue.

The twice world champion has not competed since last year’s Irish tournament but has accepted an invitation to play in his home event, which he won five times between 1972 and 1989.

Ken Doherty starts his title defence against Dungannon’s Patrick Wallace on the opening day of the tournament, September 25.

Doherty, the 1997 world champion and current world no.4, beat Michael Judge 9-4 in last year’s final.

Mark Allen, who beat Doherty in the first round of last season’s World Championship, plays Garry Hardiman.

Joe Swail, the 2005 champion, is seeded second and begins his campaign against Colm Gilcreest.

The tournament, which was revived two years ago having not been held since 1993, runs until September 30.

First round draw: Ken Doherty v Patrick Wallace (8pm, Sep 25); David Morris v Vincent Muldoon (5pm, Sep 26); Gerard Greene v Leo Fernandez (5pm, Sep 25); Michael Judge v Dessie Sheehan (2pm, Sep 26); Fergal O’Brien v Alex Higgins (8pm, Sep 26); Mark Allen v Garry Hardiman (2pm Sep25); Joe Delaney v Eamonn Kelly (11am, Sep 25); Joe Swail v Colm Gilcreest (11am, Sep 26)