CHAMPIONSHIP League Snooker returns in 2010 with a host of big names in the first group.
Current World Champion John Higgins and reigning Premier League Champion Shaun Murphy are included, as is Judd Trump, who won the 2009 Championship League event.
The rest of the players in Group One, which will be held on Monday, January 4 and Tuesday, January 5, are Ryan Day, Mark Selby, Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire.
Championship League Snooker format
Seven groups of seven players produce seven winners who play in one further group where the eventual winner plays in the 2010 Premier League Snooker.
In each group every player will play each other once in a best of 5 frame match (21 matches) after which the top four players will contest in the play offs – semi finals and final over the best of 5 frames.
Players will be awarded 1 point for each match won, then most frames won and the least frames lost in the league series will determine their position in the league table. Dead frames will not be played in either the league or knock-out stages.
The play-off winner will progress to the final league of the Championship League Snooker while the players coming sixth and seventh in the group will be relegated and will not feature in any further group matches.
Therefore after the group has played its total 24 matches (21 League matches plus play offs semi finals and final) three players will leave and be replaced by a further three players.
Prize money - group phase
£3,000 Winner of each final. £2,000 runner-up in final. £1,000 losing semi-finalists. £100 per frame won.
Prize money - winners group.
£10,000 overall champion. £5,000 overall runner-up. £3,000 losing semi-finalists. £300 per frame won.
Date posted: December 23, 2009
http://matchroomsport.com
Date posted: November 10, 2009
THE Championship League Snooker competition will return in 2010 with the best players in the world taking part.
Each of the top 12 players off the current official world rankings will be appearing in one of the first three groups of the internet-broadcast event.
The third season of Championship League Snooker will begin in January with the final set for the end of March. The winner of the tournament will be guaranteed a spot in Matchroom Sport's Premier League Snooker event in Autumn 2010.
Joe Perry won the Championship League in 2008 and then reached the Premier League semi-finals, while Judd Trump, the 2009 Championship League Champion, is currently second in this year's Premier League table.
Trump will appear in Group One of the 2010 Championship League alongside Stephen Maguire, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Ali Carter, Ryan Day and Mark Selby.
Current world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan will make his Championship League debut when he enters in Group Two, alongside Australian Neil Robertson and Hong Kong's Marco Fu.
Seven-time World Champion Stephen Hendry is among the Group Three competitors, as are Northern Ireland's Mark Allen and England's Joe Perry.
Matchroom Sport work in association with digital media specialists Perform, who broadcast live screening of each of the matches via a number of bookmakers' websites.
This year's Championship League event will be the biggest so far with a total prize fund of more than £200,000.
Each group features seven players competing in a round-robin basis playing the other competitors once in a five-frame match.
Players will be awarded one point for each frame won in the league phase to determine their position in the league table.
The player finishing top meets the man who came fourth, while second plays third with the two winners meeting in the final.
The winner of the final advances into the Winner's Group, while the runner-up, two losing semi-finalists and player who came fifth in the league move into the next group where they are joined by three new players.
However, the players who come sixth and seventh in each of the league tables are eliminated from the competition.
Dead frames will not be played in either the league or knock-out stages. In each league any unplayed frame money, from the league section only, will be added to a ’High Break Pot’ which will be awarded to the highest break in that league.
Players also win £100 per frame won in each group match plus there will be additional prize money for the play-offs and the final league.
Monday, January 4 and Tuesday, January 5
Judd Trump (defending champion, 30)
Stephen Maguire (2)
Shaun Murphy (3)
John Higgins (4)
Ali Carter (5)
Ryan Day (6)
Mark Selby (7)
Matches by time (table number in brackets)
Monday, January 4 (all times are approximate)
First matches - 11am – Trump v Day (1), Selby v Carter (2)
Second matches – 12.15pm – Murphy v Maguire (1), Higgins v Trump (2)
Third matches – Not before 2pm – Day v Selby (1), Carter v Murphy (2)
Fourth matches – 3.15pm – Maguire v Higgins (1), Trump v Selby (2)
Fifth – Not before 6.30pm – Day v Carter (1), Murphy v Higgins (2)
Sixth matches – 7.45pm – Selby v Higgins (1), Maguire v Carter (2)
Tuesday, January 5 (all times are approximate)
First matches – 11am – Trump v Maguire (1), Day v Murphy (2)
Second matches – 12.15pm – Carter v Higgins (1), Selby v Maguire (2)
Third matches – Not before 2pm – Trump v Murphy (1), Day v Higgins (2)
Fourth matches – 3.15pm – Day v Maguire (1), Selby v Murphy (2)
Fifth matches – 4.30pm – Trump v Carter (2)
Sixth – Not before 6pm – Play-off 1st v 4th (1), Play-off 2nd v 3rd (2)
Seventh matches – 7.15pm – Final
Matches by table (all times are approximate)
Monday, January 4 – Table One
11am – Judd Trump 3-1 Ryan Day
12.15pm – Shaun Murphy 0-3 Stephen Maguire
Not before 2pm – Ryan Day 2-3 Mark Selby
3.15pm – Stephen Maguire 3-2 John Higgins
Not before 6.30pm – Ryan Day 0-3 Ali Carter
7.45pm – Mark Selby 3-2 John Higgins
Table Two (all times are approximate)
11am – Mark Selby 2-3 Ali Carter
12.15pm – John Higgins 0-3 Judd Trump
Not before 2pm – Ali Carter 3-0 Shaun Murphy
3.15pm – Judd Trump 1-3 Mark Selby
Not before 6.30pm – Shaun Murphy 1-3 John Higgins
7.45pm – Stephen Maguire 3-2 Ali Carter
Tuesday, January 5 – Table One (all times are approximate)
11am – Judd Trump 3-1 Stephen Maguire
12.15pm – Ali Carter 0-3 John Higgins
Not before 2pm – Judd Trump 3-1 Shaun Murphy
3.15pm – Ryan Day 1-3 Stephen Maguire
Not before 6pm – Play-off Ali Carter 2-3 Stephen Maguire
7.15pm – Final - Mark Selby 0-3 Stephen Maguire
Table Two (all times are approximate)
11am – Ryan Day 1-3 Shaun Murphy
12.15pm – Mark Selby 3-1 Stephen Maguire
Not before 2pm – Ryan Day 2-3 John Higgins
3.15pm – Mark Selby 0-3 Shaun Murphy
4.30pm – Judd Trump 2-3 Ali Carter
Not before 6pm – Play-off Judd Trump 1-3 Mark Selby
Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 7
Four players from Group One and...
Ronnie O'Sullivan (1)
Marco Fu (8)
Neil Robertson (9)
Mark Selby
Ali Carter
Judd Trump
John Higgins
11,00
Allister Carter 3-1 John Higgins
Mark Selby 1-3 Judd Trump
12,15
Neil Robertson 0-3 Marco Fu
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-2 Mark Selby
14.00
John Higgins 3-2 Neil Robertson
Judd Trump 3-0 Allister Carter
15,15
Marco Fu 0-3 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Selby 3-0 Allister Carter
18.00
Judd Trump 1-3 John Higgins
Neil Robertson 3-0 Ronnie O'Sullivan
19.15
Allister Carter 3-1 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Marco Fu 3-1 John Higgins
Thursday, January 7 (all times are approximate)
11am
Mark Selby 0-3 Marco Fu (1)
Judd Trump 2-3 Neil Robertson (2)
12.15pm
John Higgins 3-0 Ronnie O'Sullivan (1)
Ali Carter 1-3 Marco Fu (2)
Not before 2pm
Judd Trump 3-0 Ronnie O'Sullivan (1)
Mark Selby 3-2 Neil Robertson (2)
3.15pm
Ali Carter 3-0 Neil Robertson (1)
Judd Trump 1-3 Marco Fu (2)
4.30pm
Mark Selby 0-3 John Higgins (2)
Not before 6pm
Play-offs - Marco Fu 0-3 Ali Carter
Judd Trump 2-3 John Higgins
7.15pm - Final (1) - Ali Carter 1-3 John Higgins
Monday, January 18 and Tuesday, January 19
Four players from Group Two and...
Stephen Hendry (10)
Mark Allen (11)
Joe Perry (12)
Neil Robertson (9)
Judd Trump (30)
Marco Fu (8)
Ali Carter (5)
FIXTURES BY TIME - (table number in brackets)
Monday, January 18 (all times are approximate)
11am
Ali Carter 1-3 Marco Fu (1)
Judd Trump 3-1 Neil Robertson (2)
12.15pm
Stephen Hendry 2-3 Mark Allen (1)
Joe Perry 3-1 Ali Carter (2)
Not before 2pm
Marco Fu 1-3 Judd Trump (1)
Neil Robertson 3-2 Stephen Hendry (2)
3.15pm
Mark Allen 3-2 Joe Perry (1)
Ali Carter 0-3 Judd Trump (2)
Not before 6pm
Marco Fu 3-1 Neil Robertson (1)
Stephen Hendry 2-3 Joe Perry (2)
7.15pm
Judd Trump 3-1 Joe Perry (1)
Mark Allen 3-2 Neil Robertson (2)
Tuesday, January 19 (all times are approximate)
11am
Ali Carter 3-0 Mark Allen (1)
Marco Fu 3-1 Stephen Hendry (2)
12.15pm
Neil Robertson 3-0 Joe Perry (1)
Judd Trump 3-1 Mark Allen (2)
Not before 2pm
Marco Fu 3-1 Joe Perry (1)
Ali Carter 3-2 Stephen Hendry (2)
3.15pm
Judd Trump 2-3 Stephen Hendry (1)
Marco Fu 2-3 Mark Allen (2)
4.30pm
Ali Carter 3-2 Neil Robertson (2)
Not before 6pm
Play-offs - Judd Trump 3-0 Ali Carter
Marco Fu 1-3 Mark Allen
7.15pm - Final (1) - Judd Trump x Mark Allen
Wednesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 21
Peter Ebdon
Mark Williams
Liang Wenbo
Neil Robertson
Ali Carter
Marco Fu
Wednesday 20 January
TABLE 1 (all times are approximate)
Mark Allen 0-3 Marco Fu
Peter Ebdon 1-3 Mark Williams
Not before 2pm
Marco Fu 3-0 Allister Carter
3.15pm
Mark Williams 0-3 Liang Wenbo
Not before 6pm
Marco Fu 2-3 Neil Robertson
7.15pm
Allister Carter 2-3 Liang Wenbo
TABLE 2 (all times are approximate)
Allister Carter 1-3 Neil Robertson
Liang Wenbo 1-3 Mark Allen
Not before 2pm
Neil Robertson 0-3 Peter Ebdon
3.15pm
Mark Allen 3-2 Allister Carter
Not before 6pm
Peter Ebdon 3-1 Liang Wenbo
7.15pm
Mark Williams 1-3 Neil Robertson
Thursday 21 January
TABLE 1 (all times are approximate)
11am
Mark Allen 0-3 Mark Williams
12.15pm
Neil Robertson 3-1 Liang Wenbo
Not before 2pm
Marco Fu 3-2 Liang Wenbo
3.15pm
Allister Carter 0-3 Peter Ebdon
Not before 6.30pm
Play-off - Neil Robertson 3-1 Peter Ebdon
7.45pm - Final - Marco Fu 3-0 Neil Robertson
TABLE 2 (all times are approximate)
11am
Marco Fu 3-1 Peter Ebdon
12.15pm
Allister Carter 2-3 Mark Williams
Not before 2pm
Mark Allen 3-2 Peter Ebdon
3.15pm
Marco Fu 0-3 Mark Williams
4.30pm
Mark Allen 1-3 Neil Robertson
Not before 6.30pm
Play-off - Marco Fu 3-2 Mark Williams
Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9
Barry Hawkins
Jamie Cope
Dave Harold
Ricky Walden
Mark Williams
Peter Ebdon
Neil Robertson
FIXTURES BY TABLE
GROUP FIVE - DAY ONE - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8
TABLE ONE (all times are approximate)
11am
Neil Robertson 3-1 Mark Williams
12.15pm
Barry Hawkins 2-3 Jamie Cope
Not before 2pm
Mark Williams 2-3 Peter Ebdon
3.15pm
Jamie Cope 3-1 Dave Harold
Not before 6pm
Mark Williams 3-2 Ricky Walden
7.15pm
Peter Ebdon 1-3 Dave Harold
TABLE TWO (all times are approximate)
11am
Peter Ebdon 3-0 Ricky Walden
12.15pm
Dave Harold 1-3 Neil Robertson
Not before 2pm
Ricky Walden 3-2 Barry Hawkins
3.15pm
Neil Robertson 2-3 Peter Ebdon
Not before 6pm
Barry Hawkins 3-1 Dave Harold
7.15pm
Jamie Cope 3-0 Ricky Walden
GROUP FIVE - DAY TWO - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
TABLE ONE (all times are approximate)
11am
Neil Robertson 3-2 Jamie Cope
12.15pm
Ricky Walden 3-0 Dave Harold
Not before 2pm
Mark Williams 3-1 Dave Harold
3.15pm
Peter Ebdon 2-3 Barry Hawkins
Not before 6.30pm
Play-off
Jamie Cope 3-0 Peter Ebdon
7.45pm
Final - Neil Robertson 3-0 Jamie Cope
TABLE TWO (all times are approximate)
11am
Mark Williams 3-0 Barry Hawkins
12.15pm
Peter Ebdon 2-3 Jamie Cope
Not before 2pm
Neil Robertson 2-3 Barry Hawkins
3.15pm
Mark Williams 3-2 Jamie Cope
4.30pm
Neil Robertson 3-2 Ricky Walden
Not before 6.30pm
Play-off
Mark Williams 0-3 Neil Robertson
Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11
Mark Allen
Stuart Bingham
Joe Swail
Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams
Peter Ebdon
Jamie Cope
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Jamie Cope 0-3 Mark Williams
Mark Allen 3-2 Stuart Bingham
Jamie Cope 3-1 Joe Swail
Mark Williams 1-3 Peter Ebdon
Stuart Bingham 1-3 Joe Swail
Barry Hawkins 1-3 Mark Allen
Jamie Cope 3-2 Peter Ebdon
6,00
Mark Williams 3-0 Barry Hawkins
Peter Ebdon 3-1 Joe Swail
Mark Allen 2-3 Joe Swail
Stuart Bingham 3-2 Barry Hawkins
Thursday, February 11, 2010
11am
Jamie Cope 0-3 Stuart Bingham
Barry Hawkins 0-3 Joe Swail
Mark Williams 0-3 Mark Allen
Peter Ebdon 3-2 Stuart Bingham
2pm
Mark Williams 1-3 Joe Swail
Peter Ebdon 2-3 Mark Allen
Jamie Cope 3-2 Mark Allen
Mark Williams 3-0 Stuart Bingham
Jamie Cope 2-3 Barry Hawkins
6,30pm
Play offs
Peter Ebdon 3-1 Mark Williams
Mark Allen 3-0 Joe Swail
Final
Mark Allen 3-0 Peter Ebdon
Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23
Ding Junhui
Steve Davis
Michael Holt
Jamie Cope
Joe Swail
Mark Williams
Peter Ebdon
Matches will start not before the time stated and will follow a roll-on / roll-off format.
Monday 22nd March
11.00am
Peter Ebdon 3-1 Joe Swail
Mark Williams 3-0 Jamie Cope
Ding Junhui 3-0 Steve Davis
Michael Holt 1-3 Peter Ebdon
Not before 14.00
Joe Swail 0-3 Mark Williams
Jamie Cope 0-3 Ding Junhui
Steve Davis 1-3 Michael Holt
Peter Ebdon 3-2 Mark Williams
Not before 18.00
Joe Swail 0-3 Jamie Cope
Ding Junhui 1-3 Michael Holt
Mark Williams 3-0 Michael Holt
Steve Davis 0-3 Jamie Cope
Tuesday 23rd March
Peter Ebdon 3-2 Steve Davis
Joe Swail 1-3 Ding Junhui
Jamie Cope 3-2 Michael Holt
Mark Williams 3-0 Steve Davis
Not before 14.00
Joe Swail 3-0 Michael Holt
Peter Ebdon 3-1 Ding Junhui
Mark Williams 3-2 Ding Junhui
Joe Swail 1-3 Steve Davis
Peter Ebdon 1-3 Jamie Cope
Not before 18.30
Semi-Final 1
Ding Junhui 3-0 Mark Williams
Semi-Final 2
Peter Ebdon 2-3 Jamie Cope
Final
Ding Junhui 1-3 Jamie Cope
Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 25.
Stephen Maguire
John Higgins
Judd Trump
Marco Fu
Neil Robertson
Mark Allen
Jamie Cope
Wednesday, 24 March
11.00am
Stephen Maguire 2-3 John Higgins
Judd Trump 2-3 Marco Fu
Neil Robertson 2-3 Mark Allen
Jamie Cope 1-3 Stephen Maguire
Not Before 2.00pm
John Higgins 2-3 Judd Trump
Marco Fu 0-3 Neil Robertson
Mark Allen 3-2 Jamie Cope
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Judd Trump
Not before 6.00pm
John Higgins 1-3 Marco Fu
Neil Robertson 3-2 Jamie Cope
Judd Trump 3-0 Jamie Cope
Mark Allen 3-0 Marco Fu
Thursday 25 March
11.00am
Stephen Maguire 3-2 Mark Allen
John Higgins 1-3 Neil Robertson
Marco Fu 3-0 Jamie Cope
Judd Trump 0-3 Mark Allen
Not before 2.00pm
John Higgins 0-3 Jamie Cope
Stephen Maguire 3-2 Neil Robertson
Judd Trump 2-3 Neil Robertson
John Higgins 3-2 Mark Allen
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Marco Fu
Semi-Final 1
Stephen Maguire 0-3 Marco Fu
Semi-Final 2
Mark Allen 3-2 Neil Robertson
Final
Marco Fu 3-2 Mark Allen