By Saj Chowdhury BBC Sport

You have to make a good start whether it's the Masters or World Championship final Paul Hunter

Snooker star Paul Hunter believes he is the player to halt world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan's charge this year.

Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the UK Championship, the 26-year-old from Leeds is wary but not overawed by the world number one.

"He's playing some fantastic snooker. and carrying on from where he left off last season," Hunter said.

"I can stop him and will do. He's not going to have it all his way. People can have good sessions against him."

"Ronnie's not going to have it all his own way in the tournaments this season," Hunter said of the player who won the season's first event, the Grand Prix, before losing in the British Open semi-final.

Hunter, who managed to reach the last eight of the UK Championship last year for the first time since 1998, is seeking to go all the way this season.

The current Masters champion, having won a number of best-of-17 and best-of-19 frame finals, wants to prove he has the game for longer encounters.

"I think my game's suited to both types of matches. For me you have to make a good start whether it's the Masters final or World Championship final - it's still a race to nine for me," added Hunter.

"You can't let your guard down against the quality of player you get these days, because they can steamroller you."

Hunter is hungry for more chances to win more titles, having collected six major honours, and wants the tournament calendar to expand.

"It'd be nice to have 12 tournaments a year, something like one a month. The problem is we don't seem to have enough sponsors at the moment," he said.

"I think though with Sir Rodney Walker (World Snooker chairman) in charge, he'll be able to get the revenue in that we need."

The Leeds player also welcomes a tournament in the Far East.

"Myself, Peter Ebdon and Ding Junhui did go out to Beijing in August to promote the sport. It went really well and it sounds like there might be an event in China before next year's World Championship," added Hunter.

But until then his mind is set on the York title widely regarded as the biggest prize outside the World Championship.

"The Barbican in York is lovely. There's tiered seating and it's nice to walk around the place. Of course, I haven't played that many matches there but I'm hoping that this year will be different."