2020 Matchroom Championship League – Group Stage 15 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 15 taking place?
Friday 5th June, 2020
GROUP STAGE 15
PLAYERS
Ian Burns
Mike Dunn
Robert Milkins
Tom Ford
FIXTURES
Tom Ford vs Robert Milkins
Tom Ford vs Mike Dunn
Tom Ford vs Ian Burns
Robert Milkins vs Mike Dunn
Robert Milkins vs Ian Burns
Mike Dunn vs Ian Burns
PREDICTION
Having reached two semi-finals and a further quarter-final this season, Tom Ford looks the man to beat here although this does look like a fairly open group so it wouldn’t be surprising to see it go down to the wire. Robert Milkins has plenty of experience on the tour but he has competed eight times previously in the Championship League and has never progressed beyond the first stage so it is difficult to have confidence in his prospects.
Ian Burns and Mike Dunn will need to play at the very top of their game if they are to compete, and that is no easy feat considering there has been no competitive snooker since March. Ford, who reached the fourth round of the Gibraltar Open before the tour was suspended, is fancied to top the group here.
BETTING TIPS
Tom Ford to win the group
Robert Milkins to beat Ian Burns
Mike Dunn to win the first frame against Ian Burns