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Coronavirus latest: What can other sports learn from snooker's return?

Coronavirus latest: What can other sports learn from snooker's return?
© Reuters
The Championship League was the sport's first event to be staged since the lockdown.

Snooker staged a successful comeback from the coronavirus lockdown this week with the completion of the Championship League in Milton Keynes.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how snooker's example could help other sports as they prepare to launch their own comebacks.

How did snooker stage the Championship League?

Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan made a rare appearance in the Championship League (Nigel French/PA)

Unprecedented precautions saw all players and officials tested for the virus and obliged to stay at the venue in Milton Keynes for the duration of their time in the tournament. There were no spectators and matches were played behind closed doors, with no handshakes between competitors.

How did the players respond?

Neil Robertson
Neil Robertson was among those who praised the staging of the tournament in Milton Keynes (John Walton/PA)

Apart from some inevitable rumblings from Ronnie O'Sullivan, players unanimously praised the opportunity to return to play, although some questioned whether such a sterile environment could be transferred to bigger events, such as the World Championships which is scheduled to take place at the end of July.

What is snooker planning next?

Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui has pulled out of the Coral Tour Championship (RIchard Sellers/PA)

The eight-player Tour Championships start in 10 days' time at the same venue, currently under the same restrictions. Ding Junhui has withdrawn due to being in China, with the sport's governing body, the WPBSA, working hard to ensure overseas players are able to bypass quarantine restrictions in order to compete in future events.

What will happen to the World Championships?

2020 Dafabet Masters – Day Three – Alexandra Palace
Judd Trump could defend his world title in an empty venue (John Walton/PA)

The plan is to run them as normally as possible, with qualifying starting in July and the tournament itself kicking off at the end of the month at the Crucible. Currently the only difference will be the lack of a crowd – but that could change depending on a potential easing of Government restrictions.

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Judd Trump pictured in January 2016
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