The 2020 Championship League (also known as the BetVictor Championship League Snooker 2020) was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place from 13 September to 30 October 2020 in the Ballroom, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England. The event featured 117 players from the World Snooker Tour as well as ten players from the 2020 Q School Order of Merit. It featured three rounds of round-robin groups of four, before a best-of-five final. It was the 15th edition of the Championship League, and it was a ranking tournament for the first time.
Ryan Day made his second career maximum break in the final frame of his match against Rod Lawler, and John Higgins made his 11th career maximum in the final frame of his match against Kyren Wilson.
Kyren Wilson won the tournament with a 3–1 final victory over Judd Trump. This was Wilson's fourth ranking title. He ended Trump's 10-final winning streak.
Tournament format There were 127 players taking part in the event. The competition began with 32 rounds of group matches with each group consisting of four players. Two groups were played to a finish every day during two blocks of eight days, from 13 to 20 September and from 28 September to 5 October, 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 in group play were played as 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 32 players that topped the group tables qualified for the group winners' stage, consisting of eight groups of four players. The eight winners from the group winners' stage qualified for the two final groups before the final took place later on the same day. The winner 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.
Stage One Winner: £3,000 Runner-up: £2,000 Third place: £1,000 Fourth place: £0
Stage Two Winner: £4,000 Runner-up: £3,000 Third place: £2,000 Fourth place: £1,000
Stage Three Winner: £6,000 Runner-up: £4,000 Third place: £2,000 Fourth place: £1,000
Final Winner: £20,000 Runner-up: £10,000
Tournament total: £328,000
Stage One Stage One consisted of 32 groups, each containing four players.
Order of play Date Group 13 September Group 1 13 September Group 2 14 September Group 3 14 September Group 4 15 September Group 5 15 September Group 6 16 September Group 7 16 September Group 8 Date Group 17 September Group 10 17 September Group 21 18 September Group 12 18 September Group 18 19 September Group 13 19 September Group 14 20 September Group 15 20 September Group 16 Date Group 28 September Group 11 28 September Group 17 29 September Group 9 29 September Group 19 30 September Group 22 30 September Group 23 1 October Group 25 1 October Group 26 Date Group 2 October Group 27 2 October Group 28 3 October Group 24 3 October Group 30 4 October Group 20 4 October Group 29 5 October Group 31 5 October Group 32
Group 1 Group 1 was played on 13 September.
Matches
Judd Trump 3–1 Fan Zhengyi Alan McManus 1–3 David Lilley Alan McManus 2–2 Fan Zhengyi Judd Trump 3–0 David Lilley David Lilley 0–3 Fan Zhengyi Judd Trump 2–2 Alan McManus
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 86 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 73 4 3 3 1 0 2 3 7 −4 61 3 4 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 68 2
Group 2 Group 2 was played on 13 September.
Matches
Ryan Day 3–1 Rod Lawler Matthew Stevens 2–2 Paul Davison Matthew Stevens 2–2 Rod Lawler Ryan Day 3–0 Paul Davison Matthew Stevens 3–1 Ryan Day Rod Lawler 3–0 Paul Davison
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 147 6 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 140 5 3 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 90 4 4 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 31 1
Group 3 Group 3 was played on 14 September.
Matches
Robert Milkins 3–0 Chen Zifan Gary Wilson 3–0 Jamie Jones Gary Wilson 2–2 Chen Zifan Robert Milkins 0–3 Jamie Jones Gary Wilson 0–3 Robert Milkins Chen Zifan 1–3 Jamie Jones
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 63 6 2 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 103 6 3 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 62 4 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 85 1
Group 4 Group 4 was played on 14 September.
Matches
Barry Hawkins 3–0 Ben Hancorn Sam Craigie 2–2 Jackson Page Sam Craigie 2–2 Ben Hancorn Barry Hawkins 3–1 Jackson Page Jackson Page 2–2 Ben Hancorn Barry Hawkins 0–3 Sam Craigie
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 145 6 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 89 5 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 63 2 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 80 2
Group 5 Group 5 was played on 15 September.
Matches
Stephen Maguire 1–3 Leo Fernandez Louis Heathcote 0–3 Dominic Dale Louis Heathcote 1–3 Leo Fernandez Stephen Maguire 2–2 Dominic Dale Dominic Dale 3–1 Leo Fernandez Stephen Maguire 2–2 Louis Heathcote
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 81 7 2 3 2 0 1 7 5 +2 62 6 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 96 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 70 1
Group 6 Group 6 was played on 15 September.
Matches
Ricky Walden 3–1 Gerard Greene Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Zhao Jianbo Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Gerard Greene Ricky Walden 1–3 Zhao Jianbo Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Ricky Walden Gerard Greene 2–2 Zhao Jianbo
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 109 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 54 5 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 75 4 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 132 1
Group 7 Group 7 was played on 16 September.
Matches
Ben Woollaston 0–3 Si Jiahui Matthew Selt 3–1 Gao Yang Matthew Selt 3–1 Si Jiahui Ben Woollaston 2–2 Gao Yang Matthew Selt 2–2 Ben Woollaston Si Jiahui 2–2 Gao Yang
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 71 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 60 4 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 114 2 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 66 2
Group 8 Group 8 was played on 16 September.
Matches
Shaun Murphy 3–0 Peter Devlin Martin O'Donnell 3–1 Jimmy White Martin O'Donnell 3–0 Peter Devlin Shaun Murphy 3–0 Jimmy White Jimmy White 2–2 Peter Devlin Shaun Murphy 3–1 Martin O'Donnell
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 111 9 2 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 128 6 3 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 69 1 4 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 81 1
Group 9 Group 9 was played on 29 September.
Matches
Mark Allen 2–2 Jamie Wilson Luo Honghao 3–1 Billy Castle Luo Honghao 3–0 Jamie Wilson Mark Allen 3–0 Billy Castle Billy Castle 2–2 Jamie Wilson Mark Allen 2–2 Luo Honghao
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 128 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 106 5 3 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 48 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 74 1
Group 10 Group 10 was played on 17 September.
Matches
Liam Highfield 2–2 Nigel Bond Zhao Xintong 3–0 Oliver Brown Zhao Xintong 3–1 Nigel Bond Liam Highfield 2–2 Oliver Brown Zhao Xintong 0–3 Liam Highfield Nigel Bond 2–2 Oliver Brown
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 65 6 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 80 5 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 70 2 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 79 2
Group 11 Group 11 was played on 28 September.
Matches
Alexander Ursenbacher 3–1 Riley Parsons Anthony McGill 2–2 Lukas Kleckers Anthony McGill 0–3 Riley Parsons Alexander Ursenbacher 3–0 Lukas Kleckers Alexander Ursenbacher 2–2 Anthony McGill Riley Parsons 2–2 Lukas Kleckers
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 80 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 88 4 3 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 65 2 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 29 2
Group 12 Group 12 was played on 18 September.
Matches
Stuart Bingham 3–0 Pang Junxu Yuan Sijun 1–3 James Cahill Yuan Sijun 3–1 Pang Junxu Stuart Bingham 3–0 James Cahill James Cahill 3–1 Pang Junxu Stuart Bingham 3–0 Yuan Sijun
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 0 +9 127 9 2 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 96 6 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 78 3 4 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 53 0
Group 13 Group 13 was played on 19 September.
Matches
Ian Burns 3–0 Fraser Patrick Jack Lisowski 0–3 Rory McLeod Jack Lisowski 3–1 Fraser Patrick Ian Burns 2–2 Rory McLeod Jack Lisowski 2–2 Ian Burns Fraser Patrick 0–3 Rory McLeod
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 54 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 114 5 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 139 4 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 36 0
Group 14 Group 14 was played on 19 September.
Matches
Graeme Dott 2–2 Zak Surety Liang Wenbo 3–1 Soheil Vahedi Liang Wenbo 3–0 Zak Surety Graeme Dott 3–1 Soheil Vahedi Soheil Vahedi 1–3 Zak Surety Graeme Dott 3–1 Liang Wenbo
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 103 7 2 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 105 6 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 83 4 4 3 0 0 3 3 9 −6 68 0
Group 15 Group 15 was played on 20 September.
Matches
Daniel Womersley 0–3 Jamie O'Neill Michael Holt 0–3 Sean Maddocks Michael Holt 3–0 Jamie O'Neill Daniel Womersley 2–2 Sean Maddocks Michael Holt 1–3 Daniel Womersley Jamie O'Neill 3–1 Sean Maddocks
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 63 6 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 56 4 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 87 4 4 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 100 3
Anthony Hamilton was originally due to take part in this group, but withdrew and was replaced by Daniel Womersley.
Group 16 Group 16 was played on 20 September.
Matches
Mark Selby 3–1 Fergal O'Brien Lyu Haotian 2–2 Brandon Sargeant Lyu Haotian 3–0 Fergal O'Brien Mark Selby 3–1 Brandon Sargeant Brandon Sargeant 2–2 Fergal O'Brien Mark Selby 2–2 Lyu Haotian
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 81 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 102 5 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 121 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 33 1
Group 17 Group 17 was played on 28 September.
Matches
Neil Robertson 1–3 Ken Doherty Andrew Higginson 3–1 Eden Sharav Andrew Higginson 0–3 Ken Doherty Neil Robertson 2–2 Eden Sharav Eden Sharav 2–2 Ken Doherty Neil Robertson 3–0 Andrew Higginson
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 109 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 125 4 3 3 1 0 2 3 7 −4 96 3 4 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 78 2
Group 18 Group 18 was played on 18 September.
Matches
Hossein Vafaei 3–1 Jak Jones Xiao Guodong 3–1 Farakh Ajaib Xiao Guodong 2–2 Jak Jones Hossein Vafaei 3–1 Farakh Ajaib Xiao Guodong 3–0 Hossein Vafaei Jak Jones 0–3 Farakh Ajaib
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 105 7 2 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 125 6 3 3 1 0 2 5 6 −1 55 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 84 1
Group 19 Group 19 was played on 29 September.
Matches
Sunny Akani 3–1 Peter Lines Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3–1 Lee Walker Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–2 Peter Lines Sunny Akani 3–0 Lee Walker Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3–1 Sunny Akani Peter Lines 2–2 Lee Walker
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 57 7 2 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 76 6 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 51 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 72 1
Group 20 Group 20 was played on 4 October.
Matches
Stuart Carrington 0–3 Jordan Brown Yan Bingtao 3–0 Michael White Yan Bingtao 2–2 Jordan Brown Stuart Carrington 0–3 Michael White Yan Bingtao 2–2 Stuart Carrington Jordan Brown 3–1 Michael White
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 56 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 98 5 3 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 130 3 4 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 64 1
Group 21 Group 21 was played on 17 September.
Matches
David Gilbert 3–1 Aaron Hill Lu Ning 2–2 Xu Si Lu Ning 3–1 Aaron Hill David Gilbert 2–2 Xu Si Xu Si 1–3 Aaron Hill David Gilbert 2–2 Lu Ning
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 98 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 70 5 3 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 58 3 4 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 121 2
Group 22 Group 22 was played on 30 September.
Matches
Scott Donaldson 3–0 Ashley Carty Chris Wakelin 3–0 Barry Pinches Chris Wakelin 2–2 Ashley Carty Scott Donaldson 3–1 Barry Pinches Barry Pinches 2–2 Ashley Carty Scott Donaldson 2–2 Chris Wakelin
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 107 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 76 5 3 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 64 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 69 1
Group 23 Group 23 was played on 30 September.
Matches
Mark King 2–2 David Grace Jimmy Robertson 3–1 Allan Taylor Jimmy Robertson 1–3 David Grace Mark King 3–1 Allan Taylor Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Mark King David Grace 1–3 Allan Taylor
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 76 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 116 4 3 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 80 3 4 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 94 3
Group 24 Group 24 was played on 3 October.
Matches
Kyren Wilson 3–0 Kuldesh Johal Duane Jones 3–0 Kuldesh Johal Kyren Wilson 3–0 Duane Jones Kyren Wilson 3–0 Kuldesh Johal Duane Jones 1–3 Kuldesh Johal Kyren Wilson 3–0 Duane Jones
Table Player 1 4 4 0 0 12 0 +12 125 12 2 4 1 0 3 4 9 −5 47 3 3 4 1 0 3 3 10 −7 53 3
Daniel Wells was withdrawn from the group after a positive COVID-19 test.
Group 25 Group 25 was played on 1 October.
Matches
John Higgins 3–1 Brian Ochoiski Joe O'Connor 3–0 Amine Amiri Joe O'Connor 2–2 Brian Ochoiski John Higgins 3–0 Amine Amiri Amine Amiri 0–3 Brian Ochoiski John Higgins 2–2 Joe O'Connor
Table