2020 Matchroom Championship League – Group Stage 12 Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
What is the 2020 Matchroom Championship League? The Championship League is a non-ranking event that has taken place since 2008 and, while being a sought-after title in its own right, also serves as a qualifier for the Champion of Champions.
It will be the first competitive snooker to take place since the tour was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and there will be several safety measures in place such as social distancing and virus-testing.
When is the 2020 Matchroom Championship League taking place? The 2020 Matchroom Championship League will take place June 1-11.
Where is the 2020 Matchroom Championship League taking place? The 2020 Matchroom Championship League will take place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England.
What is the prize fund for the 2020 Matchroom Championship League? The total prize fund amounts to £200,000 with all competitors guaranteed at least £1000 and the winner pocketing £30,000.
Who is taking part in the 2020 Matchroom Championship League? All 128 World Snooker tour card holders were invited to take part in the 2020 event, with the final line-up consisting of the top 64-ranked players from those who registered their interest. Many of the world’s top players are involved, although there are some notable absences such as John Higgins, Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy.
What is the format of the 2020 Matchroom Championship League? The 64 entrants will initially be split up into 16 groups of four. Those groups will be played in a round-robin format with two groups to be played to completion on each day from June1-8. Matches will be best of four frames, with three points for a win and one for a draw. If players are tied on points, then frame difference, head-to-head result and highest break will be the separators (in that order).
The 16 group winners will advance to the Group Winners’ Stage, consisting of a further four groups of four. These groups will take place June 9-10.
Those four winners will then compete in the final group – the Tournament Finals – on June 11 where the 2020 Matchroom Championship League winner will be crowned.
Where can I watch the 2020 Matchroom Championship League? Both ITV4 and Eurosport will be providing daily televised coverage from the event for viewers in the UK, with live streaming available on ITV Hub and Eurosport Player.
Free streaming is also available across the Americas, Asia and Africa on MatchroomLive – a new sports streaming platform.
Where can I get tickets for the 2020 Matchroom Championship League? No tickets are available for the event as it will be taking place behind closed doors.
When is the 2020 Matchroom Championship League Group Stage 12 taking place?
Wednesday 3rd June, 2020
GROUP STAGE 12
PLAYERS
Chen Feilong
Alfie Burden
Ryan Day
Kyren Wilson
FIXTURES
Kyren Wilson vs Ryan Day
Kyren Wilson vs Alfie Burden
Kyren Wilson vs Chen Feilong
Ryan Day vs Alfie Burden
Ryan Day vs Chen Feilong
Alfie Burden vs Chen Feilong
PREDICTION
Kyren Wilson is the player with a target on his back in Group 12 as the Englishman is now fully established in the top 10 and frequently reaches the latter stages of tournaments. His performances over 2019-20 as a whole are on another level to his three opponents and, although he has yet to win a tournament this season, he has frequently threatened having reached three finals and a further two semi-finals.
Ryan Day has bags of experience but his form this season has dipped considerably compared to the last two years so unless he can recapture his game, he is unlikely to trouble Wilson, who has won their last two meetings. Burden and Feilong are outsiders and didn’t display enough form prior to the disruption of the tour to suggest they can contend so it's Wilson's to lose.
BETTING TIPS
Kyren Wilson to win the group
Ryan Day to beat Alfie Burden
Chen Feilong to win the first frame against Alfie Burden
