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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Group 26
Group 26 was played on 1 October.

Matches

 Martin Gould 3–1 Igor Figueiredo
 Kurt Maflin 3–1 Simon Lichtenberg
 Kurt Maflin 2–2 Igor Figueiredo
 Martin Gould 1–3 Simon Lichtenberg
 Kurt Maflin 1–3 Martin Gould
 Igor Figueiredo 3–1 Simon Lichtenberg

Table

Group 27
Group 27 was played on 2 October.

Matches

 Tom Ford 3–0 Ashley Hugill
 Luca Brecel 3–0 Mitchell Mann
 Luca Brecel 3–1 Ashley Hugill
 Tom Ford 2–2 Mitchell Mann
 Mitchell Mann 3–1 Ashley Hugill
 Tom Ford 3–1 Luca Brecel

Table

Group 28
Group 28 was played on 2 October.

Matches

 Mark Joyce 2–2 Jamie Clarke
 Jamie Clarke 3–0 Haydon Pinhey
 Mark Joyce 3–0 Haydon Pinhey
 Mark Joyce 1–3 Jamie Clarke
 Jamie Clarke 3–0 Haydon Pinhey
 Mark Joyce 3–1 Haydon Pinhey

Table

Mark Williams was to take part in this group, but withdrew and was replaced by Haydon Pinhey.

Lei Peifan was withdrawn from the group after an invalid COVID-19 test.

Group 29
Group 29 was played on 4 October.

Matches

 Joe Perry 3–0 Steven Hallworth
 Elliot Slessor 3–0 Kacper Filipiak
 Elliot Slessor 1–3 Steven Hallworth
 Joe Perry 3–0 Kacper Filipiak
 Kacper Filipiak 0–3 Steven Hallworth
 Joe Perry 1–3 Elliot Slessor

Table

Group 30
Group 30 was played on 3 October.

Matches

 Mark Davis 2–2 Chang Bingyu
 Ali Carter 3–1 Jamie Curtis-Barrett
 Ali Carter 2–2 Chang Bingyu
 Mark Davis 3–0 Jamie Curtis-Barrett
 Ali Carter 0–3 Mark Davis
 Chang Bingyu 3–1 Jamie Curtis-Barrett

Table

Group 31
Group 31 was played on 5 October.

Matches

 Tian Pengfei 2–2 Robbie Williams
 Noppon Saengkham 0–3 Oliver Lines
 Noppon Saengkham 2–2 Robbie Williams
 Tian Pengfei 2–2 Oliver Lines
 Noppon Saengkham 1–3 Tian Pengfei
 Robbie Williams 3–1 Oliver Lines

Table

Group 32
Group 32 was played on 5 October.

Matches

 John Astley 2–2 Iulian Boiko
 Li Hang 3–1 Alex Borg
 Li Hang 3–1 Iulian Boiko
 John Astley 3–1 Alex Borg
 Alex Borg 2–2 Iulian Boiko
 John Astley 1–3 Li Hang

Table

Ronnie O'Sullivan was originally due to take part in this group, but withdrew and was replaced by John Astley.

Stage Two
Stage Two consisted of eight groups, each containing four players.

Order of play

Group A
Group A was played on 26 October.

Matches

 Judd Trump 3–1 Robert Milkins
 Barry Hawkins 3–0 Ryan Day
 Barry Hawkins 3–0 Robert Milkins
 Judd Trump 2–2 Ryan Day
 Ryan Day 3–1 Robert Milkins
 Judd Trump 3–0 Barry Hawkins

Table

Group B
Group B was played on 27 October.

Matches

 Shaun Murphy 1–3 Dominic Dale
 Zhou Yuelong 3–1 Matthew Selt
 Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Dominic Dale
 Shaun Murphy 3–1 Matthew Selt
 Matthew Selt 3–1 Dominic Dale
 Shaun Murphy 2–2 Zhou Yuelong

Table

Group C
Group C was played on 26 October.

Matches

 Zhao Xintong 2–2 Alexander Ursenbacher
 Stuart Bingham 1–3 Luo Honghao
 Stuart Bingham 2–2 Alexander Ursenbacher
 Zhao Xintong 3–1 Luo Honghao
 Stuart Bingham 0–3 Zhao Xintong
 Luo Honghao 2–2 Alexander Ursenbacher

Table

Group D
Group D was played on 27 October.

Matches

 Graeme Dott 3–0 Jamie O'Neill
 Mark Selby 3–0 Rory McLeod
 Mark Selby 3–0 Jamie O'Neill
 Graeme Dott 2–2 Rory McLeod
 Mark Selby 2–2 Graeme Dott
 Jamie O'Neill 3–1 Rory McLeod

Table

Group E
Group E was played on 28 October.

Matches

 Xiao Guodong 3–1 Jordan Brown
 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–2 Ken Doherty
 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3–1 Jordan Brown
 Xiao Guodong 1–3 Ken Doherty
 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–2 Xiao Guodong
 Jordan Brown 2–2 Ken Doherty

Table

Group F
Group F was played on 28 October.

Matches

 Kyren Wilson 3–0 Mark King
 David Gilbert 0–3 Scott Donaldson
 David Gilbert 3–1 Mark King
 Kyren Wilson 2–2 Scott Donaldson
 Scott Donaldson 1–3 Mark King
 Kyren Wilson 3–0 David Gilbert

Table

Group G
Group G was played on 29 October.

Matches

 John Higgins 3–0 Jamie Clarke
 Tom Ford 2–2 Martin Gould
 Tom Ford 2–2 Jamie Clarke
 John Higgins 0–3 Martin Gould
 Martin Gould 2–2 Jamie Clarke
 John Higgins 3–0 Tom Ford

Table

Group H
Group H was played on 29 October.

Matches

 Mark Davis 2–2 Li Hang
 Joe Perry 3–1 Tian Pengfei
 Joe Perry 3–0 Li Hang
 Mark Davis 2–2 Tian Pengfei
 Joe Perry 2–2 Mark Davis
 Li Hang 2–2 Tian Pengfei

Table

Stage Three
Stage Three consisted of two groups, each containing four players.

Group 1
Group 1 was played on 30 October.

Matches

 Judd Trump 3–1 Zhao Xintong
 Mark Selby 1–3 Zhou Yuelong
 Mark Selby 0–3 Zhao Xintong
 Judd Trump 3–0 Zhou Yuelong
 Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Zhao Xintong
 Judd Trump 0–3 Mark Selby

Table

Group 2
Group 2 was played on 30 October.

Matches

 John Higgins 3–0 Joe Perry
 Kyren Wilson 3–1 Ken Doherty
 Kyren Wilson 3–0 Joe Perry
 John Higgins 0–3 Ken Doherty
 Kyren Wilson 1–3 John Higgins
 Joe Perry 2–2 Ken Doherty

Table

Key:P=Matchesplayed; W=Matcheswon; D=Matchesdrawn; L=Matcheslost; FW=Frameswon; FL=Frameslost; FD=Framedifference; HB=Highestbreak

Final

Century breaks

A total of 90 century breaks were made during the tournament.

147, 126, 123, 107  John Higgins
147, 100, 100  Ryan Day
145, 143, 133, 116, 101  Barry Hawkins
140  Matthew Stevens
139, 122, 109  Ken Doherty
139, 103, 100  Graeme Dott
139  Jack Lisowski
138, 112, 109, 102  Joe Perry
135, 108  Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
134, 134, 122, 119, 114, 109, 102, 100  Zhou Yuelong
134, 128, 118, 118, 109  Mark Selby
133  Oliver Lines
132  Gerard Greene
130, 112  Jamie Clarke
130  Michael White
129, 127  Stuart Bingham
128, 111  Luo Honghao
128  Martin O'Donnell
126, 120  Chang Bingyu
125, 124, 100  Neil Robertson
125, 110, 104, 103, 100  Kyren Wilson
125  David Gilbert
125  Hossein Vafaei
124, 118, 110  Judd Trump
123  Tom Ford
122, 109  Tian Pengfei
121, 100  Mark Davis
121  Brandon Sargeant
121  Xu Si
117  Zhao Xintong
116, 102  David Grace
114, 107  Gao Yang
114  Ian Burns
112  Robbie Williams
111, 102  Shaun Murphy
108  Matthew Selt
107  Scott Donaldson
107  Joe O'Connor
106  Mark Allen
105, 102  Liang Wenbo
105  Xiao Guodong
104  Martin Gould
103  Jamie Jones
102  Lyu Haotian
100  Michael Holt

References

External links
 Matchroom Sport – Championship League Snooker
 World Snooker Tour – Calendar 2020/2021 

2020 (2)
2020 in snooker
2020 in English sport
September 2020 sports events in the United Kingdom
October 2020 sports events in the United Kingdom
2020 Championship League
European Series