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Championship League

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 11 min
This article is about the snooker tournament. For the darts tournament, see Championship League Darts.
Not to be confused with Champions League.

Championship League
Tournament information
VenueCrondon Park Golf Club (2008–2016)
Ricoh Arena (2017–2019)
Barnsley Metrodome (2019)
Marshall Arena (2020)
Stadium MK (2020 and 2021)
Leicester Arena (2020–present)
LocationStock, Essex (2008–2016)
Coventry (2017–2019)
Barnsley (2019)
Milton Keynes (2020 and 2021)
Leicester (2020–present)
CountryEngland
Established2008
Organisation(s)Matchroom Sport
FormatNon-ranking: (2008–present)
Ranking: (2020–present)
Total prize fundNon-ranking: £205,000[1]
Ranking: £328,000[2]
Current championNon-ranking:
  Mark Selby (ENG)
Ranking:
  Ali Carter (ENG)

Championship League is a professional snooker tournament, devised by Matchroom Sport. The tournament was originally held at the Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex, from its debut in 2008 until 2016.[3] From 2017 it has been held in Coventry, Barnsley, Milton Keynes and Leicester.

Mark Selby is the reigning champion of the invitational tournament and Shaun Murphy is the reigning champion of the ranking tournament.

History and format

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The event was introduced in 2008 by Barry Hearn to provide additional competition and as a qualifier to the Premier League Snooker series. In both formats of the tournament, there is no audience and matches are played behind closed doors.

A ranking event version of the tournament began from September 2020, played in a different format to its invitational, non‑ranking counterpart and open to the entire World Snooker Tour.

In June 2020 there was a one‑off, round‑robin, non‑ranking edition of the tournament, played in another different format, held in Milton Keynes.

Invitational version format

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In the invitational, non‑ranking version, 25 players take part, although players often withdraw and are replaced by others. Players earn money for every frame won and there are also prizes for being a semi‑finalist, runner‑up and winner of each group, with more money involved in the winners' group. In the first two years all matches in the group stages were the best‑of‑four, meaning that the matches could end in a draw as all the four frames were played, and the semi‑finals and final were best‑of‑five. Since 2010 all matches are best‑of‑five. The competition runs over eight groups, each consisting of seven players. From the league stage of the first seven groups the top four qualify for a play‑off, the winner of which qualifies for the winners' group. The bottom two players of each group are eliminated and the remaining four move to the next group, where they are joined by three more players until the seventh group. In each group, the players are ranked by the number of matches won, then by most frames won, and then by least frames lost. If two players are tied by these criteria, the player who won the match between them is ranked higher in the table. The winners play in the final group with the champion taking a place in that year's Premier League Snooker until 2012,[3] and in the following season's Champion of Champions from 2013.

Ranking version format

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In the ranking version, 128 players take part in 32 rounds of group matches with each group consisting of four players. All matches are the best‑of‑four with three points awarded for a win and one point for a draw. The 32 players that top the group tables qualify for the second stage, consisting of eight groups of four players, and the eight winners from the second stage qualify for the two final groups. In each group, the players are ranked by points scored, frame difference and then head‑to‑head results between players who are tied. Places that are still tied are then determined by the highest break made in the group. If the highest break is also tied, the next highest break made by the players is used. The winners of the two final groups play a best‑of‑five final. The champion takes a place in that season's Champion of Champions.

Maximum breaks

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There have been 15 maximum breaks in the history of the tournament.[4] Shaun Murphy made the first in 2014.[5] Barry Hawkins and David Gilbert both made maximums in 2015,[6][7] and Gilbert made the 147th maximum in 2019.[8] Fergal O'Brien made one in 2016,[9] and Mark Davis made two in 2017.[10][11] Martin Gould and Luca Brecel both made maximums in 2018,[12][13] and Ryan Day made one in 2020.[14] John Higgins made maximums in both 2020[15] and 2024.[16] Stuart Bingham made one in 2021[17] as did Kyren Wilson and Joe O'Connor in 2024.[18][19]

There were three maximum breaks achieved during the 2024 tournament, by Kyren Wilson in Group 3,[18] by John Higgins in Group 5,[16] and by Joe O'Connor in Group 7.[19] This is only the third time that three maximums have been made in an event, the first being at the 2012 UK Championship, and the second at the 2017 German Masters.

Prize fund

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The breakdown of prize money for both the invitational and ranking versions of the Championship League is shown below.

Invitational version prize fund

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  • Maximum possible tournament total (since 2013): £205,000 (if all match results are 3‍–‍2)[1]
  • Minimum possible tournament total (since 2013): £152,800 (if all match results are 3‍–‍0)[1]

Ranking version prize fund

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  • Tournament total: £328,000[2]

Note: The champion receives a total of £33,000 (£3,000 + £4,000 + £6,000 + £20,000).

Winners

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Year Winner Score Runner-up Season Venue (England)
Invitational tournaments (non-ranking, 2008–present)
2008[20]  Joe Perry (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Mark Selby (ENG) 2007/08 Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex
2009[21]  Judd Trump (ENG) 3‍–‍2  Mark Selby (ENG) 2008/09
2010[22]  Marco Fu (HKG) 3‍–‍2  Mark Allen (NIR) 2009/10
2011[23]  Matthew Stevens (WAL) 3‍–‍1  Shaun Murphy (ENG) 2010/11
2012[24]  Ding Junhui (CHN) 3‍–‍1  Judd Trump (ENG) 2011/12
2013[25]  Martin Gould (ENG) 3‍–‍2  Ali Carter (ENG) 2012/13
2014[26]  Judd Trump (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Martin Gould (ENG) 2013/14
2015[27]  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 3‍–‍2  Mark Davis (ENG) 2014/15
2016[28]  Judd Trump (ENG) 3‍–‍2  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 2015/16
2017[29]  John Higgins (SCO) 3‍–‍0  Ryan Day (WAL) 2016/17 Ricoh Arena in Coventry
2018[30]  John Higgins (SCO) 3‍–‍2  Zhou Yuelong (CHN) 2017/18
2019[31]  Martin Gould (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Jack Lisowski (ENG) 2018/19 Ricoh Arena in Coventry and
Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley
2020 (March)[32]  Scott Donaldson (SCO) 3‍–‍0  Graeme Dott (SCO) 2019/20 Leicester Arena in Leicester
2020 (June)[33]  Luca Brecel (BEL) R‍–‍R[a]  Ben Woollaston (ENG) 2019/20 Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes
2021[34]  Kyren Wilson (ENG) 3‍–‍2  Mark Williams (WAL) 2020/21 Ballroom, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes
2022[35]  John Higgins (SCO) 3‍–‍2  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 2021/22 Leicester Arena in Leicester
2023[36]  John Higgins (SCO) 3‍–‍1  Judd Trump (ENG) 2022/23
2024[37]  Mark Selby (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Joe O'Connor (ENG) 2023/24
Ranking tournaments (2020–present)
2020[38]  Kyren Wilson (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Judd Trump (ENG) 2020/21 Ballroom, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes
2021[39]  David Gilbert (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Mark Allen (NIR) 2021/22 Leicester Arena in Leicester
2022[40]  Luca Brecel (BEL) 3‍–‍1  Lu Ning (CHN) 2022/23
2023[41]  Shaun Murphy (ENG) 3‍–‍0  Mark Williams (WAL) 2023/24
2024[42]  Ali Carter (ENG) 3‍–‍1  Jackson Page (WAL) 2024/25

Notes

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  1. ^ A one-off, round-robin, non-ranking edition of the tournament was played in a different format to the usual event, in June 2020.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker (Invitational)". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Championship League Snooker (Ranking)". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b Turner, Chris. "Matchroom Championship League". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  4. ^ "147 Breaks: Full list". WPBSA. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Murphy 147 / Robertson Centuries Record". World Snooker Tour. 9 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Hawkins makes 147 at CLS". World Snooker Tour. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Xiao wins CLS7 / Gilbert makes 147". World Snooker Tour. 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Gilbert makes historic 147th maximum". World Snooker Tour. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ^ "O'Brien joins 147 club". World Snooker Tour. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Davis makes first 147 to win CLS group three". World Snooker Tour. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Mark Davis makes 147 in Coventry". World Snooker Tour. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Gould Makes Maiden 147". World Snooker Tour. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Brecel joins 147 club". World Snooker Tour. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Day starts season with 147". World Snooker Tour. 13 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Higgins makes 11th career maximum". World Snooker Tour. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Higgins makes 13th maximum". World Snooker Tour. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Bingham makes eighth 147". World Snooker Tour. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Wilson makes fifth 147". World Snooker Tour. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Joe O'Connor makes snooker's 200th 147". World Snooker Tour. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2008)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2009)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2010)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2011)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2012)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2013)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2014)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2015)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2016)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2017)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2018)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2019)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2020)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Championship League – Round-Robin (2020)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2021)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2022)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2023)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Championship League – Winners Group (2024)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  38. ^ "2020 Championship League". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  39. ^ "2021 Championship League". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  40. ^ "2022 Championship League". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  41. ^ "2023 Championship League". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  42. ^ "2024 Championship League". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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