Grace is looking to fans to spur him on in York

WHEN every match is the biggest match of your life, the pressure starts to become more manageable – at least it is according to David Grace.

The Leeds cueman once again takes to the baize at the UK Snooker Championship in York this afternoon, to face Peter Ebdon in the last 16.

After beating Andrew Higginson 6-1 in round one at the Barbican Centre, the world No 81 has won the two “biggest matches of his career” to reach round four.

Firstly, world No 17 Robert Milkins was dispatched 6-2 before talented Cheltenham potter Jack Lisowski was overcome 6-4 on Monday evening.

This set up another winnable tie against Ebdon who – despite winning the world championship in 2002 and defeating current world champion Stuart Bingham in the last round – is only ranked at 34 in the world.

With a large group of support set to follow Grace to York from Leeds, the 30-year-old claims the 1pm clash is one to which he is looking forward.

“There was a massive sense of achievement when I got over the line against Jack Lisowski,” said Grace.

“I potted some really good pressure balls and there’s no better feeling than when you’re doing that.

“Every round seems to be my biggest match and I feel like I’m used to it now – it doesn’t feel like it’s happening all at once. It’s building slowly.

“Peter is as tough as they come. He’s had a great win over Stuart, but there’s not many matches I’m not second-favourite for, so that’s not something that bothers me – I don’t mind being the underdog.

“Hopefully there’s a lot of people up to cheer me on – my posse is growing by the day.

“First round was just my dad, then it was my mum and dad, then a couple of friends and my fiancée were over for the Lisowski match – so I’m sure I’ll be running out of tickets this time.”

After overcoming the world champion in the last 32, you might think that Ebdon would see Grace as something of a simpler task.

But despite being ranked 47 places higher than his opponent, the 45-year-old is adamant he will not be underestimating the Leeds man come this afternoon.

“All of the players are fantastic players and you see that in the tournaments we play all around the tour – the players are beating each other all day long,” explained Ebdon.

“You have to imagine that you’re playing Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson or any of the top players because as soon as you let your concentration slip for one second, these guys will beat you.

“I don’t see myself as favourite – if I don’t play well I’ll get beaten, it’s as simple as that.

“I’ll have to play as well, if not better, than I did against Stuart.”

The remaining last-32 matches were decided last night and yet another top-16 player was sent crashing out as Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen went down 6-4 to Martin Gould.

Gould will take on 46-year-old Joe Swail in the last 16 with the winner facing either Yorkshireman Grace or Ebdon in the quarter-finals.

While Allen was on the wrong end of a shock in the last 32, there were no such problems for world No 4 and 2008 UK champion Shaun Murphy, who looked imperious as he beat Ben Woollaston 6-2.

And Stephen Maguire made it eight last-16 appearances in his past nine UK Championships as he won a high-quality battle with Mark Davis 6-4.

n Ronnie O’Sullivan has announced his intention to play in the Masters next month after skipping the UK Championship.

O’Sullivan said two weeks ago his decision to pass up the chance to defend his UK title in York was to try “different things” and that he no longer desired the pressure of being snooker’s “top man”.

The 39-year-old, though, has decided he wants to participate at the prestigious 16-man Masters, which will be held at Alexandra Palace between January 10-17.

O’Sullivan has won the sport’s most famous non-ranking event on five occasions, most notably as a 19-year-old in 1995.

His last competitive match was at the world championship in April, when he lost in the quarter-final to eventual champion Stuart Bingham, and he has since restricted himself to playing in amateur and exhibition events.

Writing a blog for Eurosport in mid-November, he stressed he was keen to carry on playing, but was enjoying time away from the spotlight.

“I’m trying different things at the moment,” said the five-time world champion.

“I don’t want the pressure of being the top man in snooker any more. I feel that should be left to the new generation of players. I do want a place within the sport, and I’m trying to fathom what that place is.”

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