The 2019 Championship League was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament, taking place from at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry (Group 1âÂÂ6) and at the Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley (Group 7 and the Winners' Group), both in England. It was the 12th staging of the tournament.
David Gilbert made the historic 147th maximum break in his group 5 round robin match against Stephen Maguire. It was Gilbert's second professional maximum break (he achieved his first in the 2015 Championship League), and it was the sixth consecutive year that a maximum was made in the Championship League.
During the round robin matches, Neil Robertson recorded his 600th career century in Group 1, and Ding Junhui his 500th in Group 7. And during the Winners' Group round robin matches, John Higgins made his 750th career century break, and Judd Trump also recorded his 600th.
John Higgins was a two-time defending champion, having retained his 2017 title with a 3âÂÂ2 victory against Zhou Yuelong in the 2018 final. However, Higgins lost 3âÂÂ0 to Martin Gould in the semi-finals.
Martin Gould went on to win his second Championship League title, beating Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ1 in the final.
Tournament Format
The Championship League event sees 25 professionals (including substitutes; 28 players in 2019) take part, with players earning prize money for every frame won. Matches are best of 5 frames, and the league is played from January to March 2019.
The competition runs over eight groups, each consisting of seven players. From each group the top four qualify for a play-off, and the winners of the first seven play-offs qualify 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. The winners play in the final group, and the winner of the Winners' Group play-off takes the title and a place at the 2019 Champion of Champions.
Prize fund
The breakdown of prize money for the 2019 Championship League is shown below.
Group 1âÂÂ7
- Winner: ã3,000
- Runner-up: ã2,000
- Semi-final: ã1,000
- Frame-win (league stage): ã100
- Frame-win (play-offs): ã300
- Highest break: ã500
Winners' Group
- Winner: ã10,000
- Runner-up: ã5,000
- Semi-final: ã3,000
- Frame-win (league stage): ã200
- Frame-win (play-offs): ã300
- Highest break: ã1,000
- Tournament total: ã177,800
Group 1
Group 1 was played on 1 and 2 January 2019. Neil Robertson was the first player to qualify for the Winners' Group, recording his 600th career century in the round-robin match against Anthony Hamilton.
Matches
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ1 Jack Lisowski
- Jimmy Robertson 0âÂÂ3 Robert Milkins
- Anthony Hamilton 3âÂÂ2 Neil Robertson
- Mark King 3âÂÂ1 Ricky Walden
- Jack Lisowski 1âÂÂ3 Jimmy Robertson
- Robert Milkins 2âÂÂ3 Mark King
- Ricky Walden 3âÂÂ1 Anthony Hamilton
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ1 Jimmy Robertson
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ2 Robert Milkins
- Mark King 3âÂÂ0 Anthony Hamilton
- Ricky Walden 3âÂÂ0 Robert Milkins
- Jimmy Robertson 1âÂÂ3 Anthony Hamilton
- Neil Robertson 1âÂÂ3 Ricky Walden
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ1 Mark King
- Jimmy Robertson 3âÂÂ0 Ricky Walden
- Robert Milkins 1âÂÂ3 Anthony Hamilton
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ0 Mark King
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ2 Anthony Hamilton
- Jimmy Robertson 3âÂÂ1 Mark King
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ2 Ricky Walden
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ1 Robert Milkins
Table
Play-offs
Group 2
Group 2 was played on 3 and 4 January 2019. Jack Lisowski was the second player to qualify for the Winners' Group.
Matches
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ0 Kyren Wilson
- Luca Brecel 3âÂÂ2 Jimmy Robertson
- Anthony Hamilton 3âÂÂ0 Judd Trump
- Ricky Walden 2âÂÂ3 Jack Lisowski
- Kyren Wilson 3âÂÂ0 Luca Brecel
- Jimmy Robertson 1âÂÂ3 Ricky Walden
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ2 Anthony Hamilton
- Judd Trump 1âÂÂ3 Luca Brecel
- Kyren Wilson 2âÂÂ3 Jimmy Robertson
- Ricky Walden 3âÂÂ1 Anthony Hamilton
- Jack Lisowski 1âÂÂ3 Jimmy Robertson
- Luca Brecel 3âÂÂ1 Anthony Hamilton
- Judd Trump 1âÂÂ3 Jack Lisowski
- Kyren Wilson 3âÂÂ2 Ricky Walden
- Luca Brecel 0âÂÂ3 Jack Lisowski
- Jimmy Robertson 3âÂÂ2 Anthony Hamilton
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ2 Ricky Walden
- Kyren Wilson 3âÂÂ1 Anthony Hamilton
- Luca Brecel 3âÂÂ0 Ricky Walden
- Kyren Wilson 2âÂÂ3 Jack Lisowski
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ1 Jimmy Robertson
Table
Play-offs
Group 3
Group 3 was played on 7 and 8 January 2019. Judd Trump was the third player to qualify for the Winners' Group.
Matches
- Mark Selby 0âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Stuart Bingham 2âÂÂ3 Judd Trump
- Jimmy Robertson 2âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Kyren Wilson 2âÂÂ3 Luca Brecel
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ2 Stuart Bingham
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ1 Kyren Wilson
- Luca Brecel 3âÂÂ0 Jimmy Robertson
- Mark Selby 2âÂÂ3 Stuart Bingham
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ1 Judd Trump
- Kyren Wilson 3âÂÂ0 Jimmy Robertson
- Luca Brecel 3âÂÂ2 Judd Trump
- Stuart Bingham 3âÂÂ1 Jimmy Robertson
- Mark Selby 3âÂÂ1 Luca Brecel
- Barry Hawkins 0âÂÂ3 Kyren Wilson
- Stuart Bingham 3âÂÂ1 Luca Brecel
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ1 Jimmy Robertson
- Mark Selby 3âÂÂ1 Kyren Wilson
- Barry Hawkins 2âÂÂ3 Jimmy Robertson
- Stuart Bingham 3âÂÂ0 Kyren Wilson
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ0 Luca Brecel
- Mark Selby 3âÂÂ1 Judd Trump
Table
Play-offs
Group 4
Group 4 was played on 9 and 10 January 2019. Stuart Bingham was the fourth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.
Matches
- Ryan Day 1âÂÂ3 Ali Carter
- Graeme Dott 3âÂÂ1 Luca Brecel
- Stuart Bingham 3âÂÂ1 Ryan Day
- Mark Selby 3âÂÂ1 Barry Hawkins
- Ali Carter 3âÂÂ1 Graeme Dott
- Luca Brecel 0âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ0 Stuart Bingham
- Ryan Day 3âÂÂ2 Graeme Dott
- Ali Carter 1âÂÂ3 Luca Brecel
- Mark Selby 3âÂÂ2 Stuart Bingham
- Barry Hawkins 1âÂÂ3 Luca Brecel
- Graeme Dott 3âÂÂ2 Stuart Bingham
- Ryan Day 3âÂÂ0 Barry Hawkins
- Ali Carter 3âÂÂ1 Mark Selby
- Graeme Dott 1âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Luca Brecel 0âÂÂ3 Stuart Bingham
- Ryan Day 1âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Ali Carter 1âÂÂ3 Stuart Bingham
- Graeme Dott 0âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Ali Carter 0âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Ryan Day 2âÂÂ3 Luca Brecel
Table
Play-offs
Group 5
Group 5 was played on 21 and 22 January 2019. Mark Selby was the fifth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.
Matches
- Stephen Maguire 3âÂÂ0 Anthony McGill
- Joe Perry 2âÂÂ3 David Gilbert
- Ali Carter 1âÂÂ3 Stephen Maguire
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ0 Mark Selby
- Anthony McGill 3âÂÂ2 Joe Perry
- David Gilbert 3âÂÂ1 Barry Hawkins
- Mark Selby 3âÂÂ0 Ali Carter
- Stephen Maguire 0âÂÂ3 Joe Perry
- Anthony McGill 1âÂÂ3 David Gilbert
- Barry Hawkins 1âÂÂ3 Ali Carter
- Mark Selby 2âÂÂ3 David Gilbert
- Joe Perry 1âÂÂ3 Ali Carter
- Stephen Maguire 3âÂÂ2 Mark Selby
- Anthony McGill 3âÂÂ1 Barry Hawkins
- Joe Perry 0âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- David Gilbert 3âÂÂ1 Ali Carter
- Stephen Maguire 2âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Anthony McGill 2âÂÂ3 Ali Carter
- Joe Perry 1âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Anthony McGill 1âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Stephen Maguire 3âÂÂ1 David Gilbert
Note
Due to illness, Luca Brecel withdrew from the tournament prior to group 5 play. He was replaced in the group by David Gilbert.
Table
Play-offs
Group 6
Group 6 was played on 23 and 24 January 2019. Martin Gould was the sixth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.
Matches
- Xiao Guodong 0âÂÂ3 Martin Gould
- Mark Davis 3âÂÂ0 Ali Carter
- David Gilbert 3âÂÂ0 Xiao Guodong
- Stephen Maguire 3âÂÂ1 Barry Hawkins
- Martin Gould 1âÂÂ3 Mark Davis
- Ali Carter 2âÂÂ3 Stephen Maguire
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ1 David Gilbert
- Xiao Guodong 2âÂÂ3 Mark Davis
- Martin Gould 3âÂÂ2 Ali Carter
- Stephen Maguire 3âÂÂ2 David Gilbert
- Barry Hawkins 3âÂÂ1 Ali Carter
- Mark Davis 1âÂÂ3 David Gilbert
- Xiao Guodong 1âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Martin Gould 3âÂÂ0 Stephen Maguire
- Mark Davis 1âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Ali Carter 3âÂÂ2 David Gilbert
- Xiao Guodong 3âÂÂ0 Stephen Maguire
- Martin Gould 3âÂÂ0 David Gilbert
- Mark Davis 3âÂÂ2 Stephen Maguire
- Martin Gould 0âÂÂ3 Barry Hawkins
- Xiao Guodong 0âÂÂ3 Ali Carter
Table
Play-offs
Group 7
Group 7 was played on 11 and 12 March 2019. John Higgins was the seventh and final player to qualify for the Winners' Group.
Matches
- John Higgins 3âÂÂ0 Ding Junhui
- Michael White 0âÂÂ3 Noppon Saengkham
- Stephen Maguire 0âÂÂ3 John Higgins
- Mark Davis 3âÂÂ2 Tom Ford
- Ding Junhui 3âÂÂ2 Michael White
- Noppon Saengkham 3âÂÂ1 Mark Davis
- Tom Ford 1âÂÂ3 Stephen Maguire
- John Higgins 3âÂÂ1 Michael White
- Ding Junhui 0âÂÂ3 Noppon Saengkham
- Mark Davis 3âÂÂ2 Stephen Maguire
- Tom Ford 2âÂÂ3 Noppon Saengkham
- Michael White 2âÂÂ3 Stephen Maguire
- John Higgins 3âÂÂ0 Tom Ford
- Ding Junhui 3âÂÂ1 Mark Davis
- Michael White 1âÂÂ3 Tom Ford
- Noppon Saengkham 3âÂÂ2 Stephen Maguire
- John Higgins 3âÂÂ0 Mark Davis
- Ding Junhui 3âÂÂ1 Stephen Maguire
- Michael White 3âÂÂ1 Mark Davis
- Ding Junhui 3âÂÂ1 Tom Ford
- John Higgins 3âÂÂ1 Noppon Saengkham
Note
David Gilbert and Barry Hawkins withdrew from the tournament prior to group 7 play. They were replaced by Tom Ford and Noppon Saengkham.
Table
Play-offs
Winners' Group
The Winners' Group was played on 13 and 14 March 2019. Martin Gould won his second Championship League title, beating Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ1 in the final. During the round robin matches, John Higgins made his 750th career century break. On the second day, Judd Trump made his 600th career century in his match against Martin Gould.
Matches
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ1 Jack Lisowski
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ1 Stuart Bingham
- Martin Gould 3âÂÂ2 John Higgins
- Mark Selby 1âÂÂ3 Neil Robertson
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ1 Judd Trump
- Stuart Bingham 1âÂÂ3 Martin Gould
- John Higgins 3âÂÂ2 Mark Selby
- Neil Robertson 1âÂÂ3 Judd Trump
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ1 Stuart Bingham
- Martin Gould 0âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- John Higgins 1âÂÂ3 Stuart Bingham
- Judd Trump 1âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ1 John Higgins
- Jack Lisowski 0âÂÂ3 Martin Gould
- Judd Trump 0âÂÂ3 John Higgins
- Stuart Bingham 1âÂÂ3 Mark Selby
- Neil Robertson 0âÂÂ3 Martin Gould
- Jack Lisowski 3âÂÂ0 Mark Selby
- Judd Trump 3âÂÂ0 Martin Gould
- Jack Lisowski 2âÂÂ3 John Higgins
- Neil Robertson 3âÂÂ1 Stuart Bingham
Table
Play-offs
Century breaks
Total: 104
- 147 <small>(5)</small>, 105, 100, 100 David Gilbert
- 143 <small>(3)</small>, 143 <small>(4)</small>, 143, 141, 139, 139, 135, 122, 113, 113, 110, 109, 107, 103, 102, 100 Mark Selby
- 143 <small>(3)</small>, 132, 111, 106, 101, 100 Stuart Bingham
- 142, 137, 136 <small>(W)</small>, 127, 125, 115, 111, 110, 109, 105, 105, 104, 103 Judd Trump
- 141 <small>(6)</small>, 134, 126, 125, 113, 105 Ali Carter
- 139 <small>(1)</small>, 128, 124, 120, 115, 110, 104 Neil Robertson
- 135, 131, 117, 115, 105, 105 Martin Gould
- 135, 129, 124, 116, 108, 105, 104, 103, 102 Stephen Maguire
- 135, 127, 104, 102 Luca Brecel
- 135 Joe Perry
- 135 Ricky Walden
- 134, 121, 120, 120, 105, 105, 101, 101 Barry Hawkins
- 132 <small>(2)</small>, 129, 123, 108 Kyren Wilson
- 130 <small>(7)</small>, 120, 118, 117, 117 John Higgins
- 127 Tom Ford
- 122 Graeme Dott
- 121, 100 Ding Junhui
- 120, 117 Jimmy Robertson
- 117, 107, 103 Jack Lisowski
- 112, 110 Noppon Saengkham
- 112 Xiao Guodong
- 110 Michael White
- 104 Anthony McGill
<small>Bold: highest break in the indicated group.</small>
Winnings
<small> Green: Won the group. Bold: Highest break in the group. All prize money in GBP. <br>Parenthesis: Ranking prior to tournament start, 1 January 2019. <br>Notes <br><sup>(1)</sup> Due to illness, Luca Brecel withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 5 play. <br><sup>(2)</sup> Barry Hawkins and David Gilbert withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 7 play. </small>
References
External links
- http://www.championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk/
- http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/?year=2019&month=1