Championship League 2020
Championship League 2020
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Tournament type: | Invitation tournament |
Attendees: | 64 |
Venue: | Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes |
Opening: | June 1, 2020 |
Endgame: | June 11, 2020
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Winner: | Luca Brecel |
Highest Break: | 143 ( Joe O'Connor ) |
← 2019/20
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The Matchroom.live Championship League 2020 was a snooker invitation tournament as part of the main tour - season 2019/20 , which was held as a pure round- robin tournament in 3 phases from June 1 to 11, 2020. Due to the corona pandemic in spring 2020, the tournament took place under special circumstances. It was only introduced into the season at a later date and was provided with numerous protective measures. As a result, the procedure and mode of the tournament changed fundamentally compared to the Championship League tournaments held since 2008. Among other things, the tournament was held in one piece instead of on distributed dates, there were more participants and, including the finals, only group games instead of group phase and elimination phase. A venue suitable for the requirements was found in the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes . The city north-west of London was the first venue for a professional snooker tournament.
The last regular edition of the Championship League ended in March 2020 with a victory for Scottish Scott Donaldson , who did not compete this time.
The winner was the Belgian Luca Brecel , who prevailed unbeaten in the final group against Ben Woollaston , Stuart Bingham and Ryan Day . It was his second title on the Main Tour after winning the China Championship in 2017 .
prehistory
After the COVID-19 pandemic spread from Asia to Europe worldwide from the beginning of 2020, some tournaments had to be canceled or postponed in the final phase of the 2019/20 snooker season . After the Gibraltar Open , which had already been played without an audience in mid-March, the game was suspended for an indefinite period. After the worst phase of the pandemic in Europe was over and protective measures had been relaxed again, the continuation of professional sport was also considered. One of the pioneers was the German Bundesliga , which began again in mid-May with games without an audience.
In order to resume the snooker season, which at this point would have ended with the World Cup , a new tournament was introduced. It should enable as many players as possible to participate and at the same time take into account the requirements for disease protection. It was decided to build on the group format of the Championship League . Although it was only possible to play at two tables at the same time for reasons of distance, the field of 64 players remained compact and each player was able to gain practice in at least three games.
Corona measures
As at other sporting events and at the last regular snooker tournament, spectators were excluded. The athletes were quarantined before and during the tournament and were tested for viruses daily. Without a negative test result, no access authorization to the venue was granted. The tournament remained without positive tests. Because the players in Milton Keynes could all be accommodated in the immediate vicinity of the Marshall Arena , this venue was preferred to the last venue of the Championship League in Leicester. During the games, the distance requirement between the players and the referee was observed, and the obligatory handshaking was waived. In addition, the auxiliary cues were not shared or touched by the referees, instead each player had their own set of auxiliary cues and extra time off the table.
Tournament mode
The format had little in common with the original championship league. Instead of fewer selected players who were given multiple opportunities to qualify for the finals, 64 players - half of all professionals - were together in the opening round. Since international travel restrictions were still in force at the start of the tournament, many professionals were unable to travel. The players were divided into groups of four, each day two groups played separately at two tables all six group games (“everyone against everyone”) one after the other. The best of 4 mode was retained, but a maximum of 4 frames were played, which is why a game could end in a 3: 0, 3: 1 or 2: 2 draw. The placements were decided in this order
- the score
- the frame difference
- the direct comparison of two players
- the higher break during the group round
Only the 16 group winners made it to the second round without further qualifying games. There the four players for the final were determined according to the same mode in four groups. The tournament winner then emerged from the six games in the final group.
Prize money
The prize money was based solely on the placement achieved; there were no additional bonuses for frames won, as was previously the case in the Championship League. Each participant was guaranteed a minimum bonus of £ 1,000 , and the tournament winner was paid £ 30,000 after three rounds. The tournament totaled £ 218,000.
Opening round | Prize money |
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Group winners | £ 4,000 |
place 2 | £ 2,000 |
place 3 | £ 1,500 |
4th place | £ 1,000 |
Intermediate round | Prize money |
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Group winners | £ 6,000 |
place 2 | £ 2,500 |
place 3 | £ 2,000 |
4th place | £ 1,500 |
Final group | Prize money |
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Tournament winner | £ 20,000 |
place 2 | £ 8,000 |
place 3 | £ 4,000 |
4th place | £ 2,000 |
competition
Opening round
In each of the 16 groups, four players competed in the mode everyone against everyone . The 16 group winners made it through to the intermediate round. Every day two groups were played, so that the opening round lasted 8 days from June 1st to 8th.
Group 1
The first group games took place on June 6th. The winner became the favorite Stuart Bingham , number 13 in the world rankings . He was equal on points and frames with Ricky Walden , but had a higher break than his English compatriot.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Stuart Bingham | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 94 | 5 |
2 | Ricky Walden | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 89 | 5 |
3 | Jamie Clarke | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6th | −3 | 105 | 3 |
4th | Jordan Brown | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4th | 7th | −3 | 74 | 2 |
Single results
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Group 2
The second group games took place on June 1st. World number one Judd Trump was the winner with 3 wins .
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Judd Trump | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 63 | 9 |
2 | Elliot Slessor | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7th | 5 | +2 | 106 | 6th |
3 | Daniel Wells | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4th | 8th | −4 | 85 | 1 |
4th | David Grace | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8th | −5 | 39 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 3
The third group games took place on June 2nd. Outsider Mark Joyce , number 68 in the world rankings, prevailed with 3 wins.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
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G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Mark Joyce | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 101 | 9 |
2 | Mark Davis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 66 | 4th |
3 | Michael Holt | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7th | −2 | 65 | 3 |
4th | Louis Heathcote | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4th | 8th | −4 | 121 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 4
The fourth group games took place on June 3rd. With Harvey Chandler , number 84 in the world rankings, the player with the lowest placement made it to the second round. Only group favorite Joe Perry could take a point from him.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Harvey Chandler | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 4th | +4 | 101 | 7th |
2 | Sam Baird | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 96 | 4th |
3 | Joe Perry | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 74 | 3 |
4th | Mark King | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4th | 8th | −4 | 85 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 5
The fifth group games took place on June 4th. Liang Wenbo , number 34 in the world rankings, was the only one of only two Chinese who entered the next round. Against the favored Mark Selby he won just as confidently as against his other two group opponents.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Liang Wenbo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 117 | 9 |
2 | Joe O'Connor | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 143 | 4th |
3 | Mark Selby | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 89 | 4th |
4th | Lee Walker | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 66 | 0 |
Single results
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Group 6
The sixth group games took place on June 8th. Outsider Sam Craigie , number 62 in the world rankings, won a draw from favorite Ali Carter and secured group victory with two clean sheets against the other players.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Sam Craigie | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 2 | +6 | 131 | 7th |
2 | Ali Carter | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 114 | 4th |
3 | Dominic Dale | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 67 | 4th |
4th | Matthew Selt | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8th | −5 | 137 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 7
The seventh group games took place on June 7th. With Barry Hawkins , number 15 in the world rankings, the favorite prevailed. He only gave points and frames against Anthony McGill , the only Scotsman in the tournament.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Barry Hawkins | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 2 | +6 | 96 | 7th |
2 | Anthony McGill | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 5 | +2 | 107 | 5 |
3 | Hammad Miah | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4th | 6th | −2 | 75 | 3 |
4th | Craig Steadman | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8th | −6 | 53 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 8
The eighth group games took place on June 6th. After he had clearly won the first two games, Ben Woollaston , number 38 in the world rankings, was able to secure victory in the final group game by drawing against the slightly favored Jimmy Robertson .
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Ben Woollaston | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 2 | +6 | 71 | 7th |
2 | Jimmy Robertson | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 81 | 5 |
3 | Liam Highfield | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 95 | 4th |
4th | Thor Chuan Leong | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 65 | 0 |
Single results
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Group 9
The ninth group games took place on June 2nd. In the final group game, the tied Luca Brecel and Jack Lisowski played for the decision. The favored world number 12. Lisowski missed the win and the Belgian Brecel, number 37 in the world rankings, got through because he had previously scored a higher break than the Englishman.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Luca Brecel | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 138 | 5 |
2 | Jack Lisowski | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 104 | 5 |
3 | Oliver Lines | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6th | −3 | 136 | 3 |
4th | Robbie Williams | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 84 | 0 |
Single results
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Group 10
The tenth group games took place on June 5th. The world number six, Ronnie O'Sullivan , prevailed confidently without losing points or frames.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 116 | 9 |
2 | Chris Wakelin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 119 | 4th |
3 | Kishan Hirani | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 35 | 4th |
4th | Michael Georgiou | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 39 | 0 |
Single results
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Group 11
The games of the eleventh group took place on June 8th. After Mark Allen and Martin O'Donnell had each won their first two games, the decision was made in the last game. O'Donnell, number 33 in the world rankings, saved himself to 2: 2 and, thanks to the better frame balance, won the group against the fifth in the world rankings.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
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G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Martin O'Donnell | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 3 | +5 | 62 | 7th |
2 | Mark Allen | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 4th | +4 | 85 | 7th |
3 | Michael White | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4th | 6th | −2 | 60 | 3 |
4th | Nigel Bond | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 61 | 0 |
Single results
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Group 12
The games of the twelfth group took place on June 3rd. The Welshman Ryan Day , number 36 in the world rankings, succeeded in advancing through a win in the final playoff against the favored Englishman Kyren Wilson .
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Ryan Day | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 3 | +5 | 91 | 7th |
2 | Kyren Wilson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 5 | +1 | 111 | 4th |
3 | Alfie Burden | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6th | −3 | 88 | 3 |
4th | Chen Feilong | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4th | 7th | −3 | 102 | 2 |
Single results
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Group 13
The 13th group games took place on June 1st. World number 11 David Gilbert managed to win a favorite and only in the ultimately insignificant game against Jak Jones did he give up frames and points.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | David Gilbert | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 2 | +6 | 100 | 7th |
2 | Jackson Page | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 45 | 4th |
3 | Stuart Carrington | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 69 | 4th |
4th | Jak Jones | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8th | −5 | 83 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 14
The games of the 14th group took place on June 4th. The Englishman Gary Wilson , number 19 in the world rankings, made it through confidently and only gave one frame.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Gary Wilson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 134 | 9 |
2 | Gerard Greene | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 85 | 4th |
3 | Mitchell Mann | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4th | 7th | −3 | 90 | 2 |
4th | John Astley | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4th | 8th | −4 | 75 | 1 |
Single results
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Group 15
The games of the 15th group took place on June 5th. Englishman Tom Ford , number 26 in the world rankings, managed to win a favorite with just one frame loss.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Tom Ford | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 130 | 9 |
2 | Robert Milkins | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 5 | +1 | 51 | 4th |
3 | Ian Burns | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 68 | 4th |
4th | Mike Dunn | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 34 | 0 |
Single results
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Group 16
The 16th group games took place on June 7th. Surprisingly, outsider Ashley Carty , number 83 in the world rankings, prevailed among other things with a victory over world number two Neil Robertson .
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Ashley Carty | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 2 | +6 | 87 | 7th |
2 | Neil Robertson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 119 | 4th |
3 | Ken Doherty | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 90 | 4th |
4th | Kurt Maflin | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8th | −5 | 24 | 1 |
Single results
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Intermediate round
The 16 group winners of the opening round were divided into four groups. In the mode everyone against everyone 4 group winners were determined, which then carry out the final. The games took place on June 9th and 10th, 2 groups were decided on each day.
Group A
Group A games took place on June 10th. Luca Brecel was the only one in the group to remain unbeaten and reached the final with only 5 points because the other players took points away from each other.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Luca Brecel | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 5 | +2 | 109 | 5 |
2 | Gary Wilson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 5 | +1 | 132 | 4th |
3 | Mark Joyce | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 60 | 4th |
4th | Ashley Carty | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7th | −5 | 97 | 3 |
Single results
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Group B
Group B games took place on June 10th. Ryan Day laid the foundation for the final with a 3-0 win against tournament favorites Judd Trump in the first match , two draws were enough for him to secure group victory. With 4 draws it was the most balanced group in the tournament.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Ryan Day | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 122 | 5 |
2 | Judd Trump | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 60 | 4th |
3 | David Gilbert | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 120 | 3 |
4th | Barry Hawkins | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7th | −2 | 130 | 2 |
Single results
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Group C
The Group C games took place on June 9th. Favorite Ronnie O'Sullivan , who had only given up one frame in 5 games, surprisingly lost the decisive game against Stuart Bingham 3-0. Another 3-0 was enough for Bingham to prevail with the best frame ratio of three tied players.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Stuart Bingham | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7th | 3 | +4 | 75 | 6th |
2 | Sam Craigie | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 97 | 6th |
3 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6th | 4th | +2 | 104 | 6th |
4th | Harvey Chandler | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 42 | 0 |
Single results
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Group D
Group D games took place on June 9th. Although Ben Woollaston lost the direct comparison against Martin O'Donnell , he did not give up a frame in the other two games and therefore came on with the better frame ratio.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Ben Woollaston | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7th | 3 | +4 | 134 | 6th |
2 | Martin O'Donnell | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7th | 5 | +2 | 128 | 6th |
3 | Tom Ford | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 95 | 4th |
4th | Liang Wenbo | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8th | −5 | 75 | 1 |
Single results
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final
The four group winners of the intermediate round played the tournament victory on June 11th in the mode everyone against everyone . Stuart Bingham, number 13 in the world rankings, was the top ranked player in the quartet. With a clear 3-0 win against the Englishman with 2 Centurys , Luca Brecel put herself in a good starting position in the opening match. Against Ryan Day he had to accept a draw, but in the final game against Ben Woollaston , who had also won his first match, he only needed one point. He also took a 1-0 lead, then Woollaston managed a break of 141 points after a fluke. He took the momentum and got the following frame with a Century. The last frame of the tournament thus became the decision frame for the tournament victory. But it was Belgian Brecel who bravely took his first chance and won the title with another Century.
Item | player | Lots | Frames | Highest break |
Points | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | U | V | G | V | ± | ||||
1 | Luca Brecel | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 4th | +3 | 111 | 5 |
2 | Ben Woollaston | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6th | 6th | 0 | 141 | 4th |
3 | Stuart Bingham | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6th | −1 | 74 | 4th |
4th | Ryan Day | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7th | −2 | 105 | 2 |
Single results
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Century breaks
26 players scored 53 century breaks over the course of the tournament. With 5 breaks of 100 or more points each, the two finalists Luca Brecel and Ben Woollaston as well as Gary Wilson were the most successful. The break with 143 points by Joe O'Connor in his opening round match against Mark Selby was the highest break of the tournament, but this time there was no additional bonus.
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swell
- ↑ a b Championship League to Start June 1st. In: wst.tv. World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association , May 21, 2020, accessed June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 1 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 2 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 3 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 4 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 5 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 6 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 7 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 8 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 9 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 10 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 11 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 12 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 13 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 14 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 15 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League Group 16 (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League S / F Group A (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 11, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League S / F Group B (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 11, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League S / F Group C (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
- ↑ Championship League S / F Group D (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
- ↑ Matchroom.Live Championship League (2020). In: snooker.org. Retrieved June 12, 2020 .
- ^ Matchroom.live Championship League - Centuries. In: worldsnookerdata.com. World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association , accessed June 12, 2020 .
Web links
- Official Championship League website
- 2020 Championship League at Cuetracker