Junhui says fan return is still ‘ too risky’ for now

DEFENDING CHAMPION Ding Junhui claimed it is too early to think about re- admitting fans to snooker matches, after breezing into the second round of the UK Championship.

The 33- year- old – who secured the 14th ranking event title of his career at the Barbican Centre in York in 2019 – made light work of his opening clash at the Marshall Arena, prevailing against amateur Jamie Curtis- Barrett 6- 1.

But having booked his spot in Round 2, Ding addressed his concerns about the news that fans could be allowed to attend the event in Milton Keynes from December 2, with the Buckinghamshire town being placed in tier two of regions in England.

“I wouldn’t want to see fans back at the minute – it’s too risky,” the world No. 10 said.

“We’re in a room inside – it’s not like a football ground that’s outside. There’s a much higher chance of catching the virus in indoor arenas than outside in a stadium.

“Everyone’s looking forward to the return of crowds, but the first thing should be to keep the players safe. If players don’t feel safe you can’t put them in danger, it’s not worth the risk.

“If I got to the quarter- finals or semi- finals and there were crowds, I couldn’t pull out, I’d have to go for it. But I think it would affect my concentration, if people were coughing around me.”

Elsewhere, 2018 Masters champion Mark Allen insisted he had plenty of room for improvement, despite kicking off his campaign in ideal fashion with a 6- 1 win over professional tour rookie Jamie Wilson.