2020 Championship League (June 2020)


The 2020 Championship League was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place from 1 to 11 June 2020 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England. It was the 14th edition of the Championship League. The event featured 64 players from the World Snooker Tour competing in three rounds of round-robin groups of four players. The initial group stage matches were played between 1 and 8 June, the group winners' stage on 9 and 10 June, and the finals stage on 11 June. It was one of the first live sporting events to be held in the United Kingdom since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.
Luca Brecel won the tournament, finishing top of the final group ahead of Ben Woollaston, Stuart Bingham and Ryan Day. The event was broadcast on ITV4 in the United Kingdom, Eurosport across Europe, Superstars Online, Youku and Zhibo.tv in China, Fox Sports in Australia and Sky in New Zealand. Elsewhere, the event was broadcast on Matchroom Sport.

Tournament format

The 2020 Championship League was held between 1 and 11 June 2020 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England. The tournament took place without an audience whilst maintaining social distancing. Originally due to take place in Leicester, the event was moved to Milton Keynes because of the on-site facilities at the venue, meaning that the players and officials did not need to leave the location for the duration of their involvement once they had arrived. All players were tested for COVID-19 prior to taking part. The event was sponsored by Matchroom Sport and broadcast live domestically on ITV4. It was also broadcast by Eurosport across Europe, Superstars Online, Youku and Zhibo.tv in China, Fox Sports in Australia and Sky in New Zealand.
There were 64 snooker professionals taking part in the event. The competition began with 16 rounds of group matches, each group consisting of four players. Two groups were played to a finish every day from 1 to 8 June, using a two-table setup in the arena. The groups were contested using a round-robin format, with six matches played in each group. All matches were played as the best of four frames, with three points awarded for a win and one point for a draw. Group positions were determined by points scored, frame difference and then head-to-head results between players who were tied. Places that were still tied were then determined by the highest made in the group.
The 16 players that topped the group tables qualified for the group winners' stage, consisting of four groups of four players. Two of the four groups played to a finish on 9 June and the other two groups on 10 June, again using two tables. The four winners from the group winners' stage qualified for the tournament finals played on 11 June using a single table. The winner of this final group took the Championship League title and a place at the 2020 Champion of Champions.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the tournament is shown below.
;Group stage
  • Winner: £4,000
  • Runner-up: £2,000
  • Third place: £1,500
  • Fourth place: £1,000
;Group winners' stage
  • Winner: £6,000
  • Runner-up: £2,500
  • Third place: £2,000
  • Fourth place: £1,500
;Final group
  • Winner: £20,000
  • Runner-up: £8,000
  • Third place: £4,000
  • Fourth place: £2,000
  • Tournament total: £218,000

Tournament summary

Group stages

The first round of group games was played from 1 to 8 June. Reigning world champion Judd Trump won all three group games to qualify from group 2, losing a frame to both Elliot Slessor and Daniel Wells. David Gilbert drew his second match against Jak Jones, but won against Stuart Carrington 3–0 to progress, with Carrington scoring only five points. Belgian player Luca Brecel and Englishman Jack Lisowski both defeated Oliver Lines and drew against Robbie Williams. Brecel made a break of 138 during his win over Lines and took a 2–1 lead over Lisowski. He required a break higher than 138, but was unable, tying the match at 2–2, with Brecel progressing. In group 3, Mark Joyce won all three matches leading Mark Davis. Ryan Day and Kyren Wilson met in the final match of group 12, with the victor winning the group. Day won the first two frames, before Wilson won frame 3. With the higher break, a 111, Wilson could progress with a 2–2 draw, however Day made a break of 86 to win.
In group 4, Harvey Chandler drew his first match against Joe Perry, but won his other two matches to lead the group. Liang Wenbo won group 5 with three wins whilst Joe O'Connor finished second, who made the highest break of his career, and of the event a 143 in his draw with Mark Selby. Gary Wilson won group 14, scoring four century breaks in ten frames. Both Ronnie O'Sullivan and Tom Ford won groups on 5 June, with O'Sullivan not losing a single frame. Stuart Bingham and Ricky Walden both finished group 1 with a win and two draws. The final match of the group was between Jamie Clarke and Jordan Brown. Jordan requiring a 3–0 win to progress, but the match was won by Clarke. Bingham won the group with a break of 94, but Walden made a 89 break, but played a harder shot on the, attempting to make a maximum break. Ben Woollaston won group 8, but spent the tournament estranged from his wife Tatiana Woollaston, who had been refereeing the event due to the social distancing rules.
Barry Hawkins won group 7, ahead of Anthony McGill with two wins and a draw. Former world champion Neil Robertson lost his opening match to Ashley Carty, who won the group. Martin O'Donnell and Mark Allen both won two matches, before they met in the final match of the round. The match finished 2–2, with O'Donnell winning the group with a better frame difference. [|Group 6] was won by Sam Craigie, who finished above Masters finalist Ali Carter.

Winners' and final groups

The 16 group winners were split into four groups, labelled A through D and played on 9 and 10 June. Three players finished on six points in group C. Ronnie O'Sullivan won a fourth straight match without losing a frame, before winning 3–1 against Sam Craigie, who defeated Stuart Bingham in his first match, and defeated Harvey Chandler in the final match. The match between O'Sullivan and Bingham would decide the winner of the group, but Bingham won 3–0 to lead the other players on frame difference.
Martin O'Donnell defeated Sam Woollaston 3–1, before Woollaston won his next two matches 3–0, with three century breaks over Tom Ford to win the group on frame difference. Luca Brecel won group A after defeating Ashley Carty, and drawing his other two games 2–2. When leading Mark Joyce 2–0, Brecel missed hitting a on three occasions forcing him to forfeit the frame. Ryan Day defeated reigning world champion Judd Trump in the opening match of group B, which he went on to win with two other draws. In the final match, against Barry Hawkins, Day needed to win one frame to go through to the final group, and won frame one with a break of 62.
The final group was played on 11 June. The opening match was between Brecel and Bingham, with Brecel winning all three frames. Woollaston then defeated Ryan Day 3–1, before Day drew his remaining two matches to finish the group fourth on two points. Stuart Bingham defeated Woollaston 3–1 finishing third with four points. The final match was between Brecel and Woollaston. Woolaston could win the tournament with a win, or Brecel would win the championship. Brecel won the first frame, with a break of 67, but Woollaston won the second frame after a on the. In the third frame, Woollaston took a 2–1 lead, with a century break of 126, so whoever won the final frame would win the event. In the deciding frame, Brecel made a break of 111 to draw the match, and win the tournament, ahead of Woollaston, who finished as runner-up.

Group stage

The group stage consisted of 16 groups, each containing four players. Two groups played to a finish each day from 1 to 8 June.

Order of play


DateGroup
1 June[|Group 2]
1 June[|Group 13]
2 June[|Group 3]
2 June[|Group 9]
3 June[|Group 4]
3 June[|Group 12]
4 June[|Group 5]
4 June[|Group 14]



DateGroup
5 June[|Group 10]
5 June[|Group 15]
6 June[|Group 1]
6 June[|Group 8]
7 June[|Group 7]
7 June[|Group 16]
8 JuneGroup 6
8 June[|Group 11]


Group 1

Group 1 was played on 6 June.

Matches

Stuart Bingham 3–0 Jamie ClarkeRicky Walden 2–2 Jordan BrownRicky Walden 3–0 Jamie ClarkeStuart Bingham 2–2 Jordan BrownStuart Bingham 2–2 Ricky Walden
  • Jordan Brown 0–'''3 Jamie Clarke'''

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 1 June.

Matches

Judd Trump 3–0 David Grace
  • Daniel Wells 1–3 Elliot SlessorDaniel Wells 2–2 David GraceJudd Trump 3–1 Elliot SlessorElliot Slessor 3–1 David GraceJudd Trump 3–1 Daniel Wells

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 2 June.

Matches

  • Mark Davis 1–3 Mark JoyceMichael Holt 3–1 Louis Heathcote
  • Michael Holt 1–3 Mark JoyceMark Davis 2–2 Louis Heathcote
  • Michael Holt 1–3 Mark DavisMark Joyce 3–1 Louis Heathcote

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 3 June.

Matches

  • Mark King 1–3 Sam BairdJoe Perry 2–2 Harvey ChandlerJoe Perry 2–2 Sam Baird
  • Mark King 1–3 Harvey ChandlerJoe Perry 2–2 Mark King
  • Sam Baird 1–'''3 Harvey Chandler'''

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 4 June.

Matches

Mark Selby 3–1 Lee WalkerLiang Wenbo 3–1 Joe O'ConnorLiang Wenbo 3–0 Lee WalkerMark Selby 2–2 Joe O'ConnorJoe O'Connor 3–1 Lee Walker
  • Mark Selby 0–'''3 Liang Wenbo'''

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 8 June.

Matches

  • Matthew Selt 0–3 Sam Craigie
  • Ali Carter 1–3 Dominic DaleAli Carter 2–2 Sam CraigieMatthew Selt 2–2 Dominic DaleAli Carter 3–1 Matthew SeltSam Craigie 3–0 Dominic Dale

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 7 June.

Matches

Anthony McGill 2–2 Craig SteadmanBarry Hawkins 3–0 Hammad MiahBarry Hawkins 3–0 Craig SteadmanAnthony McGill 3–1 Hammad MiahBarry Hawkins 2–2 Anthony McGill
  • Craig Steadman 0–'''3 Hammad Miah'''

Group 8

Group 8 was played on 6 June.

Matches

Ben Woollaston 3–0 Liam HighfieldJimmy Robertson 3–0 Thor Chuan LeongJimmy Robertson 2–2 Liam HighfieldBen Woollaston 3–0 Thor Chuan LeongLiam Highfield 3–0 Thor Chuan Leong
  • ''Jimmy Robertson 2–2 Ben Woollaston''

Group 9

Group 9 was played on 2 June.

Matches

Jack Lisowski 3–0 Oliver LinesLuca Brecel 2–2 Robbie WilliamsLuca Brecel 3–0 Oliver LinesJack Lisowski 2–2 Robbie Williams
  • Robbie Williams 0–3 Oliver Lines
  • ''Jack Lisowski 2–2 Luca Brecel''

Group 10

Group 10 was played on 5 June.

Matches

Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Kishan HiraniChris Wakelin 3–0 Michael GeorgiouChris Wakelin 2–2 Kishan HiraniRonnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Michael GeorgiouRonnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Chris Wakelin
  • Michael Georgiou 1–'''3 Kishan Hirani'''

Group 11

Group 11 was played on 8 June.

Matches

Mark Allen 3–1 Nigel BondMartin O'Donnell 3–0 Michael WhiteMartin O'Donnell 3–1 Nigel BondMark Allen 3–1 Michael WhiteMichael White 3–0 Nigel Bond
  • ''Mark Allen 2–2 Martin O'Donnell''

Group 12

Group 12 was played on 3 June.

Matches

Kyren Wilson 2–2 Chen FeilongRyan Day 3–0 Alfie BurdenRyan Day 2–2 Chen FeilongKyren Wilson 3–0 Alfie BurdenAlfie Burden 3–0 Chen Feilong
  • Kyren Wilson 1–'''3 Ryan Day'''

Group 13

Group 13 was played on 1 June.

Matches

Stuart Carrington 3–1 Jak JonesDavid Gilbert 3–0 Jackson PageDavid Gilbert 2–2 Jak JonesStuart Carrington 2–2 Jackson PageDavid Gilbert 3–0 Stuart Carrington
  • Jak Jones 0–'''3 Jackson Page'''

Group 14

Group 14 was played on 4 June.

Matches

Gerard Greene 3–1 John AstleyGary Wilson 3–0 Mitchell MannGary Wilson 3–1 John AstleyGerard Greene 2–2 Mitchell MannGary Wilson 3–0 Gerard Greene
  • ''John Astley 2–2 Mitchell Mann''

Group 15

Group 15 was played on 5 June.

Matches

Robert Milkins 3–0 Mike DunnTom Ford 3–0 Ian BurnsTom Ford 3–0 Mike DunnRobert Milkins 2–2 Ian BurnsTom Ford 3–1 Robert Milkins
  • Mike Dunn 1–'''3 Ian Burns'''

Group 16

Group 16 was played on 7 June.

Matches

  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Ashley Carty
  • Kurt Maflin 1–3 Ken DohertyKurt Maflin 2–2 Ashley CartyNeil Robertson 2–2 Ken DohertyNeil Robertson 3–1 Kurt Maflin
  • Ken Doherty 1–'''3 Ashley Carty'''

Group winners' stage

The group winners' stage consisted of four groups, each containing four players. Groups C and D played to a finish on 9 June. Groups A and B played to a finish on 10 June.

Group A

Matches

Luca Brecel 2–2 Mark Joyce
  • Gary Wilson 1–3 Ashley CartyGary Wilson 3–0 Mark JoyceLuca Brecel 3–1 Ashley CartyGary Wilson 2–2 Luca BrecelMark Joyce 3–1 Ashley Carty

Group B

Matches

  • Judd Trump 0–3 Ryan DayDavid Gilbert 2–2 Barry HawkinsDavid Gilbert 2–2 Ryan DayJudd Trump 3–1 Barry HawkinsJudd Trump 2–2 David Gilbert
  • ''Barry Hawkins 2–2 Ryan Day''

Group C

Matches

Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Harvey Chandler
  • Stuart Bingham 1–3 Sam CraigieStuart Bingham 3–0 Harvey ChandlerRonnie O'Sullivan 3–1 Sam Craigie
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 0–3 Stuart BinghamSam Craigie 3–0 Harvey Chandler

Group D

Matches

Tom Ford 2–2 Liang WenboMartin O'Donnell 3–1 Ben WoollastonMartin O'Donnell 3–1 Liang Wenbo
  • Tom Ford 0–3 Ben WoollastonTom Ford 3–1 Martin O'Donnell
  • Liang Wenbo 0–'''3 Ben Woollaston'''

Final group

The tournament finals, consisting of one final group of four players, were played on 11 June. Luca Brecel won the event after finishing top of the final group, with Ben Woollaston the runner-up.

Matches

  • Stuart Bingham 0–3 Luca Brecel
  • Ryan Day 1–3 Ben WoollastonRyan Day 2–2 Luca BrecelStuart Bingham 3–1 Ben WoollastonStuart Bingham 2–2 Ryan Day
  • ''Luca Brecel 2–2 Ben Woollaston''

Table

Key:P=Matchesplayed; W=Matcheswon; D=Matchesdrawn; L=Matcheslost; FW=Frameswon; FL=Frameslost; FD=Framedifference; HB=Highestbreak

Century breaks

In total, there were 53 century breaks made during the event. The highest was a 143 made by Joe O'Connor in group 5. Scores in bold denote the highest break in the indicated group.