2020 Matchroom Championship League – Group Stage 13 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 13 taking place?
Monday 1st June, 2020

GROUP STAGE 13

PLAYERS
Jackson Page
Jak Jones
Stuart Carrington
David Gilbert

FIXTURES
David Gilbert vs Stuart Carrington
David Gilbert vs Jak Jones
David Gilbert vs Jackson Page
Stuart Carrington vs Jak Jones
Stuart Carrington vs Jackson Page
Jak Jones vs Jackson Page

PREDICTION
David Gilbert is the standout name in the field here with the Englishman surely standing as one of the most improved players on the tour over the last couple of years. The 38-year-old was particularly impressive in the Open series this season where he made a final, a semi-final and a quarter-final and he was also a notable semi-finalist in the Masters, his second run to the last four of a Triple Crown event after he achieved the same feat in the World Championship last season.

Stuart Carrington is perhaps the most likely candidate to cause an upset but his form dipped considerably in the months leading up to the enforced break so Gilbert should have enough experience to come through this group unscathed.

BETTING TIPS
David Gilbert to win the group

Jack Jones vs Jackson Page to end in a draw

David Gilbert to have the highest break against Jackson Page