David Grace on Covid-19 testing, hotel quarantine and facing Judd Trump in snooker’s Championship League return

But the 35-year-old admits this week’s Matchroom.Live Championship League was “probably one of the highest-profile matches I have ever played in”.

That is because snooker – along with horse racing – was the first UK sport to make its long-awaited return from the coronavirus lockdown on Monday.

The last time Grace held a cue in anger was three months ago in March, at the Gibraltar Open, but after just a fortnight’s training – after lockdown sanctions were eased so he could return to practice at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds – the Yorkshireman was involved in the opening match at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

That the world No 85 faced world champion and world No 1 Judd Trump only added to the occasion, as the world’s media turned its attention to the behind-closed-doors event, which is being televised on ITV.

The 3-0 defeat was a side-note, because snooker – and live sport – was back, giving everyone tuning in a glimpse of normality.

“It probably was one of the highest-profile matches I have ever played in, even though it isn’t the biggest tournament,” said Grace.

“People have been crying out for live sport and wanting snooker to come back. All eyes were going to be on the TV with Judd bringing back the sport as world champion and I was the opponent.

“I had a few chances to clear up from behind and if you don’t take those chances you will get punished against Judd Trump.

“You miss the tournaments and it is nice to be back playing. It isn’t just a question of missing playing, you miss the whole process.”

Players competing this week have been forced to undergo strict Covid-19 testing.

They had to arrive at the venue for testing the day before their match, and then quarantined overnight at the on-site hotel.

“It is a different world we are living in at the moment and it was just something we will need to go through for a while,” added Grace, who lost in the 2015 semi-finals of the UK Championship in York to Liang Wenbo.

“We all arrived at the venue and were sat outside, at a social distance, waiting to be called inside.

“Nobody knew what to expect, it was a bit like being in an outdoor doctor’s waiting room.

“My name was eventually called and I went inside. The test only lasts a minute but that was enough. It wasn’t very pleasant at all. I had no idea it was possible to get something that far up your nose!

“It was really professionally done. We all went in one by one. We had masks on and had to sanitise our hands.

“Once you had been through the testing room you are escorted by security, at a social distance, to your hotel room and you don’t come across anyone on the way.

“The hotel is attached to the venue, so you don’t go outside at all. I had to take everything in with me, as soon as you enter the building you are past the point of no return and we were told that we wouldn’t be allowed outside again.

“I instantly regretted not taking more snacks, but they do provide you with three meals throughout the day and it is a waiting game for the results.

“The hotel room was lovely, but it is amazing being stuck in one place knowing you can’t get out. It is an odd sensation knowing you aren’t allowed to go anywhere.”

Grace played all three group games on Monday, losing 3-1 to Elliot Slessor and drawing 2-2 with Daniel Wells.

Twenty-four hours later it was the turn of fellow Leeds potter Oliver Lines, who impressed in a 3-0 win over Robbie Williams.

Unfortunately, defeats to Luca Brecel and Jack Lisowski prevented the 24-year-old progressing to the next group stage.

On Sunday it is the turn of Rotherham’s Ashley Carty, who faces former world champions Neil Robertson and Ken Doherty, plus Kurt Maflin.

Sport’s sweeping statements of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement reached the unlikely environs of a largely deserted Marshall Arena yesterday.

World No 78 Alfie Burden took a knee prior to the start of his match against Ryan Day, emulating the protests which have spread since the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Burden lost 3-0.

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