2020 Matchroom Championship League – Group Stage 16 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 16 taking place?
Sunday 7th
June, 2020
GROUP STAGE 16
PLAYERS
Ashley Carty
Ken Doherty
Kurt Maflin
Neil Robertson
FIXTURES
Neil Robertson vs Kurt Maflin
Neil Robertson vs Ken Doherty
Neil Robertson vs Ashley Carty
Kurt Maflin vs Ken Doherty
Kurt Maflin vs Ashley Carty
Ken Doherty vs Ashley Carty
PREDICTION
A tough group here and one which young Ashley Carty will probably feel slightly aggrieved to have been drawn in as he comes up against two former world champions in the form of Ken Doherty and Neil Robertson and a dangerous Kurt Maflin who has reached a semi-final and quarter-final this season.
In truth, Doherty has been on the slide for a number of years now and it is difficult to look past world number two Robertson, who has won three tournaments already this year. His only undoing could be the short format as we have already seen that be responsible for some surprising results in this tournament, but the Australian is simply a class above the rest and is the likeliest group winner
BETTING TIPS
Neil Robertson to win the group
Ken Doherty to beat Ashley Carty
Kurt Maflin to win the first frame against Ashley Carty
