2019 Championship League


The 2019 Championship League was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament, taking place from at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and at the Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley, both in England. It was the 12th staging of the tournament.
David Gilbert made the historic 147th maximum break in his group 5 round robin match against Stephen Maguire. It was Gilbert's second professional maximum break, and it was the sixth consecutive year that a maximum was made in the Championship League.
During the round robin matches, Neil Robertson recorded his 600th career century in Group 1, and Ding Junhui his 500th in Group 7. And during the Winners' Group round robin matches, John Higgins made his 750th career century break, and Judd Trump also recorded his 600th.
John Higgins was a two-time defending champion, having retained his 2017 title with a 3–2 victory against Zhou Yuelong in the 2018 final. However, Higgins lost 3–0 to Martin Gould in the semi-finals.
Martin Gould went on to win his second Championship League title, beating Jack Lisowski 3–1 in the final.

Tournament Format

The Championship League event sees 25 professionals take part, with players earning prize money for every frame won. Matches are best of 5 frames, and the league is played from January to March 2019.
The competition runs over eight groups, each consisting of seven players. From each group the top four qualify for a play-off, and the winners of the first seven play-offs qualify for the winners group. The bottom two players of each group are eliminated and the remaining four move to the next group, where they are joined by three more players until the seventh group. The winners play in the final group, and the winner of the Winners' Group play-off takes the title and a place at the 2019 Champion of Champions.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2019 Championship League is shown below.
;Group 1–7
  • Winner: £3,000
  • Runner-up: £2,000
  • Semi-final: £1,000
  • Frame-win : £100
  • Frame-win : £300
  • Highest break: £500
;Winners' Group
  • Winner: £10,000
  • Runner-up: £5,000
  • Semi-final: £3,000
  • Frame-win : £200
  • Frame-win : £300
  • Highest break: £1,000
  • Tournament total: £177,800

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 1 and 2 January 2019. Neil Robertson was the first player to qualify for the Winners' Group, recording his 600th career century in the round-robin match against Anthony Hamilton.

Matches

Neil Robertson 3–1 Jack Lisowski
  • Jimmy Robertson 0–3 Robert MilkinsAnthony Hamilton 3–2 Neil RobertsonMark King 3–1 Ricky Walden
  • Jack Lisowski 1–3 Jimmy Robertson
  • Robert Milkins 2–3 Mark KingRicky Walden 3–1 Anthony HamiltonNeil Robertson 3–1 Jimmy RobertsonJack Lisowski 3–2 Robert MilkinsMark King 3–0 Anthony HamiltonRicky Walden 3–0 Robert Milkins
  • Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Anthony Hamilton
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Ricky Walden Jack Lisowski 3–1 Mark KingJimmy Robertson 3–0 Ricky Walden
  • Robert Milkins 1–3 Anthony HamiltonNeil Robertson 3–0 Mark KingJack Lisowski 3–2 Anthony HamiltonJimmy Robertson 3–1 Mark KingJack Lisowski 3–2 Ricky WaldenNeil Robertson 3–1 Robert Milkins

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 3 and 4 January 2019. Jack Lisowski was the second player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Judd Trump 3–0 Kyren WilsonLuca Brecel 3–2 Jimmy RobertsonAnthony Hamilton 3–0 Judd Trump
  • Ricky Walden 2–3 Jack LisowskiKyren Wilson 3–0 Luca Brecel
  • Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Ricky WaldenJack Lisowski 3–2 Anthony Hamilton
  • Judd Trump 1–3 Luca Brecel
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Jimmy RobertsonRicky Walden 3–1 Anthony Hamilton
  • Jack Lisowski 1–3 Jimmy RobertsonLuca Brecel 3–1 Anthony Hamilton
  • Judd Trump 1–3 Jack LisowskiKyren Wilson 3–2 Ricky Walden
  • Luca Brecel 0–3 Jack Lisowski Jimmy Robertson 3–2 Anthony HamiltonJudd Trump 3–2 Ricky WaldenKyren Wilson 3–1 Anthony HamiltonLuca Brecel 3–0 Ricky Walden
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Jack LisowskiJudd Trump 3–1 Jimmy Robertson

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 7 and 8 January 2019. Judd Trump was the third player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

  • Mark Selby 0–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Stuart Bingham 2–3 Judd Trump
  • Jimmy Robertson 2–3 Mark Selby
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Luca BrecelBarry Hawkins 3–2 Stuart BinghamJudd Trump 3–1 Kyren WilsonLuca Brecel 3–0 Jimmy Robertson
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Stuart BinghamBarry Hawkins 3–1 Judd TrumpKyren Wilson 3–0 Jimmy RobertsonLuca Brecel 3–2 Judd TrumpStuart Bingham 3–1 Jimmy RobertsonMark Selby 3–1 Luca Brecel
  • Barry Hawkins 0–3 Kyren WilsonStuart Bingham 3–1 Luca BrecelJudd Trump 3–1 Jimmy RobertsonMark Selby 3–1 Kyren Wilson
  • Barry Hawkins 2–3 Jimmy RobertsonStuart Bingham 3–0 Kyren WilsonBarry Hawkins 3–0 Luca BrecelMark Selby 3–1 Judd Trump

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 9 and 10 January 2019. Stuart Bingham was the fourth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

  • Ryan Day 1–3 Ali CarterGraeme Dott 3–1 Luca BrecelStuart Bingham 3–1 Ryan DayMark Selby 3–1 Barry HawkinsAli Carter 3–1 Graeme Dott
  • Luca Brecel 0–3 Mark SelbyBarry Hawkins 3–0 Stuart BinghamRyan Day 3–2 Graeme Dott
  • Ali Carter 1–3 Luca BrecelMark Selby 3–2 Stuart Bingham
  • Barry Hawkins 1–3 Luca BrecelGraeme Dott 3–2 Stuart BinghamRyan Day 3–0 Barry HawkinsAli Carter 3–1 Mark Selby
  • Graeme Dott 1–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Luca Brecel 0–3 Stuart Bingham
  • Ryan Day 1–3 Mark Selby
  • Ali Carter 1–3 Stuart Bingham
  • Graeme Dott 0–3 Mark Selby
  • Ali Carter 0–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Ryan Day 2–'''3 Luca Brecel'''

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 21 and 22 January 2019. Mark Selby was the fifth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Stephen Maguire 3–0 Anthony McGill
  • Joe Perry 2–3 David Gilbert
  • Ali Carter 1–3 Stephen MaguireBarry Hawkins 3–0 Mark SelbyAnthony McGill 3–2 Joe PerryDavid Gilbert 3–1 Barry HawkinsMark Selby 3–0 Ali Carter
  • Stephen Maguire 0–3 Joe Perry
  • Anthony McGill 1–3 David Gilbert
  • Barry Hawkins 1–3 Ali Carter
  • Mark Selby 2–3 David Gilbert
  • Joe Perry 1–3 Ali CarterStephen Maguire 3–2 Mark SelbyAnthony McGill 3–1 Barry Hawkins
  • Joe Perry 0–3 Mark SelbyDavid Gilbert 3–1 Ali Carter
  • Stephen Maguire 2–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Anthony McGill 2–3 Ali Carter
  • Joe Perry 1–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Anthony McGill 1–3 Mark SelbyStephen Maguire 3–1 David Gilbert
;Note
Due to illness, Luca Brecel withdrew from the tournament prior to group 5 play. He was replaced in the group by David Gilbert.

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 23 and 24 January 2019. Martin Gould was the sixth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

  • Xiao Guodong 0–3 Martin Gould Mark Davis 3–0 Ali CarterDavid Gilbert 3–0 Xiao GuodongStephen Maguire 3–1 Barry Hawkins
  • Martin Gould 1–3 Mark Davis
  • Ali Carter 2–3 Stephen MaguireBarry Hawkins 3–1 David Gilbert
  • Xiao Guodong 2–3 Mark DavisMartin Gould 3–2 Ali CarterStephen Maguire 3–2 David GilbertBarry Hawkins 3–1 Ali Carter
  • Mark Davis 1–3 David Gilbert
  • Xiao Guodong 1–3 Barry HawkinsMartin Gould 3–0 Stephen Maguire
  • Mark Davis 1–3 Barry HawkinsAli Carter 3–2 David GilbertXiao Guodong 3–0 Stephen MaguireMartin Gould 3–0 David GilbertMark Davis 3–2 Stephen Maguire
  • Martin Gould 0–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Xiao Guodong 0–'''3 Ali Carter'''

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 11 and 12 March 2019. John Higgins was the seventh and final player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

John Higgins 3–0 Ding Junhui
  • Michael White 0–3 Noppon Saengkham
  • Stephen Maguire 0–3 John HigginsMark Davis 3–2 Tom FordDing Junhui 3–2 Michael WhiteNoppon Saengkham 3–1 Mark Davis
  • Tom Ford 1–3 Stephen MaguireJohn Higgins 3–1 Michael White
  • Ding Junhui 0–3 Noppon SaengkhamMark Davis 3–2 Stephen Maguire
  • Tom Ford 2–3 Noppon Saengkham
  • Michael White 2–3 Stephen MaguireJohn Higgins 3–0 Tom FordDing Junhui 3–1 Mark Davis
  • Michael White 1–3 Tom FordNoppon Saengkham 3–2 Stephen MaguireJohn Higgins 3–0 Mark DavisDing Junhui 3–1 Stephen MaguireMichael White 3–1 Mark DavisDing Junhui 3–1 Tom FordJohn Higgins 3–1 Noppon Saengkham
;Note
David Gilbert and Barry Hawkins withdrew from the tournament prior to group 7 play. They were replaced by Tom Ford and Noppon Saengkham.

Winners' Group

The Winners' Group was played on 13 and 14 March 2019. Martin Gould won his second Championship League title, beating Jack Lisowski 3–1 in the final. During the round robin matches, John Higgins made his 750th career century break. On the second day, Judd Trump made his 600th career century in his match against Martin Gould.

Matches

Neil Robertson 3–1 Jack LisowskiJudd Trump 3–1 Stuart BinghamMartin Gould 3–2 John Higgins
  • Mark Selby 1–3 Neil RobertsonJack Lisowski 3–1 Judd Trump
  • Stuart Bingham 1–3 Martin GouldJohn Higgins 3–2 Mark Selby
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Judd TrumpJack Lisowski 3–1 Stuart Bingham
  • Martin Gould 0–3 Mark Selby
  • John Higgins 1–3 Stuart Bingham
  • Judd Trump 1–3 Mark SelbyNeil Robertson 3–1 John Higgins
  • Jack Lisowski 0–3 Martin Gould
  • Judd Trump 0–3 John Higgins
  • Stuart Bingham 1–3 Mark Selby
  • Neil Robertson 0–3 Martin GouldJack Lisowski 3–0 Mark SelbyJudd Trump 3–0 Martin Gould
  • Jack Lisowski 2–3 John HigginsNeil Robertson 3–1 Stuart Bingham

Century breaks

Total: 104147, 105, 100, 100 David Gilbert143, 143, 143, 141, 139, 139, 135, 122, 113, 113, 110, 109, 107, 103, 102, 100 Mark Selby143, 132, 111, 106, 101, 100 Stuart Bingham
''Bold: highest break in the indicated group.''

Winnings

Green: Won the group. Bold: Highest break in the group. All prize money in GBP.
Parenthesis: Ranking prior to tournament start, 1 January 2019.
Notes
Due to illness, Luca Brecel withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 5 play.
Barry Hawkins and David Gilbert withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 7 play.