The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Donaldson plans to focus on qualifying for Sheffield
Perth snooker professional Scott Donaldson has delayed his return until the World Championship qualifiers in July after opting not to take part in next month’s Championship League Finals in Milton Keynes.
The world No 23 has not played a competitive match since losing to China’s Tian Pengfei in the third round of the Gibraltar Open on March 13.
Donaldson had won his first major title in Leicester the previous week, but Covid-19 put his blossoming career on hold and made practice difficult during lockdown.
The Perth potter has now decided to skip snooker’s first event back and will instead concentrate on preparing for the World Championship qualifiers at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport in mid-july.
Two wins there will book his place at the Crucible Theatre at the end of July.
Meanwhile Barry Hearn has promised players the highest health and safety measures will be in place when live snooker returns.
Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Kyren Wilson are among those taking part in the Championship League, which will see 64 players battle for a top prize of £30,000.
All players, staff and contractors must return a negative test result for coronavirus prior to entering the venue, while strict social distancing rules will be applied.
“Players who have any doubts about their own welfare can rest assured that all precautions are being taken,” Hearn said.
“I am confident that there is no other major sport which can meet health and safety criteria on isolation and social distancing as stringently as snooker can, so we are able to return more quickly than others.”
The Marshall Arena has been selected as there is accommodation on site, allowing for players to remain isolated throughout their participation in the event, which will be shown on ITV4.
Snooker’s biggest event, the Betfred World Championship, has been rescheduled to run from July 31 to August 16 at its usual home in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.