David Grace reflects on last season’s tragedy: ‘It was absolutely relentless’

“Gary was the first thing to happen, then over the next six months or so a lot of other terrible things happened.” It was absolutely relentless. It’s just life, everyone goes through it at some point, but you couldn’t catch up with the things that happened for about six months.

“It’s only natural, you’re human, it distracts your attention.” It’s not important to play a game of snooker at the end of the day. And to be honest, when I started playing games, it was a nice little escape because then I knew what I was doing and was on autopilot when I played.”

The loss of a parent is obviously devastating, not only for David but for the rest of the family, but he is glad that they remain close after this terrible time.

“It’s just heartbreaking to see my dad go through this,” he said. “He took great care of my mom when she was sick, and it’s just weird walking around the house now and it’s just him.”

“He’s doing great though, he’s focusing his energy on his grandchildren. “My sister has five girls, which keeps him busy!’

Although this doesn’t compare to the loss of a parent or friend, the relentless nature of the bad news earlier this year led to Grace also losing his beloved cat Asha.

“That was about two weeks after my mother died!” Grace said. “I was in China and my wife had to tell me she had to take her to the vet and have her put down. It was absolutely terrible.

“It’s just life, everyone goes through it.” “You just don’t expect so much to happen in such a short space of time.”

Grace is back in action at the Northern Ireland Open next week and is fighting to keep his place on the tour. He faces world champion Kyren Wilson in his opening game in Belfast on Tuesday and it will be a family affair for him as he travels through the Irish Sea.

“My dad is coming along and my eldest niece too because she wants to visit the Titanic Museum and we’re going to take the coastal route, see Giant’s Causeway and some of the Game of Thrones locations.” “It’s nice that we can all do this together .”

One of Grace’s two ranking semi-finals was at the Northern Ireland Open, although it took place during the pandemic and was therefore played in Milton Keynes.