2020 in cue sports explained
Professional tournaments in table-top cue sports took place in 2020. These events include snooker, pool disciplines and billiards. Whilst these are traditionally singles sports, some matches and tournaments are held as doubles or as teams.[1] The snooker season runs between May and April, whilst the pool and billiards seasons is listed over the calendar year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was disrupted with many events being cancelled or postponed. Cue sports events were played in January and February, before tournaments were discontinued for all disciplines due to the pandemic, returning in June without an audience.
Ronnie O'Sullivan won the only professional world championship held during the year, the World Snooker Championship. The other Triple Crown events, the UK Championship and Masters, were won by Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham, respectively. The only major pool tournament held during the year was the Mosconi Cup, won by the European team.
Pool
The cue sport pool encompasses several disciplines, such as straight pool and nine-ball. Events such as the WPA World Nine-ball Championship,[2] World Pool Masters,[3] and the World Cup of Pool,[4] were all postponed to the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mosconi Cup, contested between select teams from the US and Europe was played in December.
Euro Tour
The Euro Tour is a professional nine-ball series run across Europe by the European Pocket Billiard Federation.[7] There was just one event, the Treviso Open, with tournaments for both men and women.[8] For the list now, (m) refers to the men's event and (f) to the women's tournament.
Billiards
World Billiards events
Two World Billiards events were played in 2020, the remaining devices were postponed or cancelled.[11] [12]
Three-Cushion World Cup
The Three-Cushion World Cup traditionally played over several events had a single tournament in 2020.[15]
Snooker
See main article: 2019–20 snooker season and 2020–21 snooker season. The World Snooker Tour generally begins in July and ends in May, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 snooker season ended in August, whereas the 2020–21 snooker season began in September.[17] [18] Ronnie O'Sullivan won his sixth World Snooker Championship, defeating Kyren Wilson in the final.
Snooker world rankings
Non-ranking events
Challenge Tour
See main article: 2019–20 Challenge Tour. The Challenge Tour is a secondary non-professional snooker tour with events for invited players.[39] [40] The final four events of the 2019–20 Challenge Tour were played during 2020.
World Seniors Tour
See main article: World Seniors Tour. The World Seniors Tour is an amateur series open to players aged 40 and over.[45] There was a single event in the 2020 World Seniors Tour.[45]
Women's events
The women's tour is an amateur tour, with one event held in Belgium during 2020.
Amateur events
The English Amateur Championship was played in 2020, the hundredth staging of the event.
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Boru, Sean . The Little Book of Snooker . Sean Boru . Foreword by Jimmy White MBE . 2010 . The History Press . Stroud . 978-0-7524-5561-7. 3–4.
- Web site: World Pool Championship Moves to January . AzBilliards . April 27, 2020 . 8 August 2021 . April 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410145335/https://www.azbilliards.com/world-pool-championship-moves-to-january/ . live.
- Web site: Ouschan secures first victory in 2020 . AzBilliards . February 23, 2020 . 8 August 2021 . March 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210306174919/https://www.azbilliards.com/ouschan-secures-first-victory-in-2020/ . live.
- Web site: World Pool Masters 2020 Cancelled, 2021 Dates Confirmed . AzBilliards . July 7, 2020 . 8 August 2021 . March 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210305131128/https://www.azbilliards.com/world-pool-masters-2020-cancelled-2021-dates-confirmed/ . live.
- Web site: Mosconi Cup moves from Ally Pally to the Ricoh Arena, Coventry . 30 October 2020 . skysports.com . 5 January 2021 . November 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129024610/https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/other-sports/news/12243/12119093/mosconi-cup-moves-from-ally-pally-to-the-ricoh-arena-coventry . live.
- Web site: partypoker Mosconi Cup moves to Ricoh Arena, Coventry . 30 October 2020 . Matchroom Pool . 5 January 2021 . January 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210117225622/http://www.matchroompool.com/news/partypoker-mosconi-cup-moves-ricoh-arena-coventry/ . live.
- Web site: Dynamic Billiard Euro-Tour . AzBilliards . 6 September 2021 .
- Web site: Dynamic Billiard Euro-Tour . Azbilliards.com . 27 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601203640/https://www.azbilliards.com/tours_and_events/77-dynamic-billiard-euro-tour/calendar/ . 1 June 2019 . live.
- Web site: Shaw takes first Euro-Tour event in 2020 . AzBilliards . February 23, 2020 . 8 August 2021 . June 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210630051232/https://www.azbilliards.com/shaw-takes-first-euro-tour-event-in-2020/ . live.
- Web site: Ouschan secures first victory in 2020 . AzBilliards . February 23, 2020 . 8 August 2021 . March 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210306174919/https://www.azbilliards.com/ouschan-secures-first-victory-in-2020/ . live.
- Web site: Statement – COVID-19 . world-billiards.com . 9 August 2021 . January 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210105144935/http://world-billiards.com/statement-from-the-board-covid-19/ . live .
- Web site: CuesportsEventMgt » Show Tournaments . wbeventsonline.com . 9 August 2021 . August 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809114523/https://wbeventsonline.com/?page_id=130 . live .
- Web site: CuesportsEventMgt » Tournament Detail . wbeventsonline.com . 8 August 2021 . August 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804185751/https://wbeventsonline.com/?page_id=57&TID=333 . live.
- Web site: CuesportsEventMgt » Tournament Detail . wbeventsonline.com . 8 August 2021 . August 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804185638/https://wbeventsonline.com/?page_id=57&TID=353 . live.
- Web site: Union Mondiale de Billard . Billard . Union Mondiale de . umb-carom.org . 8 August 2021 . August 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210827121017/https://www.umb-carom.org/ScreenResolution.aspx?returnURL=%2fCM.aspx%3fid%3d342%26lng%3d2 . live .
- Web site: Antalya World Cup 2020 17–23 February 2020 – Semi-final and final . Union Mondiale de Billard . August 8, 2021 . February 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224063307/https://files.umb-carom.org/Uploads/Results/208/Q.%20MTResults_Semi_Final-Final.pdf . live .
- Snooker Scene. 6. How the circuit keeps bubbling along. October 2020.
- Web site: 2021 WST Calendar Announced . wst.tv . 7 October 2020 . August 8, 2021 . November 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126201711/https://wst.tv/2021-wst-calendar-announced/ . dead.
- Web site: Robertson Whitewashes Zhou In Austria Final . wst.tv . 26 January 2020 . July 4, 2020 . July 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716134233/https://wst.tv/robertson-whitewashes-zhou-in-austria-final/ . dead.
- Web site: Trump Secures Maiden Berlin Title . wst.tv . 2 February 2020 . 9 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200203202421/https://wst.tv/trump-secures-maiden-berlin-title/ . 3 February 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Dott Dashed By Five-Ton Robertson . wst.tv . 9 February 2020 . July 4, 2020 . May 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210502174126/https://wst.tv/dott-dashed-by-five-ton-robertson/ . dead.
- Web site: Murphy Blitzes To Maiden Welsh Open Win . wst.tv . 16 February 2020 . 17 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200216210654/https://wst.tv/murphy-blitzes-to-maiden-welsh-open-win-2/ . 16 February 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Holt Lands First Ranking Title . wst.tv . 23 February 2020 . 24 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224082223/https://wst.tv/holt-lands-first-ranking-title/ . 24 February 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Trump Triumphs In Southport . wst.tv . 1 March 2020 . 2 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200301213312/https://wst.tv/trump-triumphs-in-southport/ . 1 March 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Six Of The Best – Trump Sets New Record . wst.tv . 15 March 2020 . July 4, 2020 . July 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716134243/https://wst.tv/six-of-the-best-trump-sets-new-record/ . dead.
- Web site: Magnificent Maguire Ends Title Drought . wst.tv . 26 June 2020 . July 4, 2020 . June 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200628195708/https://wst.tv/magnificent-maguire-ends-title-drought/ . dead.
- Web site: Ronnie O'Sullivan wins sixth World Snooker Championship at Crucible . skysports.com . 17 August 2020 . 16 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200819113111/https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/snooker/news/12243/12050595/ronnie-osullivan-wins-sixth-world-snooker-championship-at-crucible . 19 August 2020 . live.
- Web site: Wilson Claims Championship League Crown . wst.tv . 30 October 2020 . August 8, 2021 . November 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101024058/https://wst.tv/wilson-claims-championship-league-crown/ . dead.
- Web site: Selby Edges Gould in Thriller . wst.tv . 2020-09-27 . August 8, 2021 . October 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024060858/https://wst.tv/selby-edges-gould-in-thriller/ . dead.
- Web site: Trump Beats Robertson In Fantastic Final . wst.tv . 18 October 2020 . August 8, 2021 . May 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525132755/https://wst.tv/trump-beats-robertson-in-fantastic-final/ . dead.
- Web site: Trump Completes Northern Ireland Treble . wst.tv . 22 November 2020 . August 8, 2021 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512151034/https://wst.tv/trump-completes-northern-ireland-treble/ . dead.
- Web site: Robertson Edges Trump In Thrilling UK Final . wst.tv . 7 December 2020 . August 8, 2021 . May 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210524173040/https://wst.tv/robertson-edges-trump-in-dramatic-final/ . dead.
- Web site: Selby Storms to Scottish Open Title . wst.tv . 13 December 2020 . August 8, 2021 . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121074750/https://wst.tv/selby-storms-to-scottish-open-title/ . dead.
- Web site: Trump Beats Lisowski To Win 20th Ranking Title . wst.tv . 20 December 2020 . August 8, 2021 . May 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210502174319/https://wst.tv/trump-beats-lisowski-to-win-20th-ranking-title/ . dead.
- Web site: Bingham Claims Maiden Masters Title . wst.tv . 19 January 2020 . 21 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200125190350/https://wst.tv/bingham-claims-maiden-masters-title/ . 25 January 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Donaldson Wins First Pro Title . wst.tv . 5 March 2020 . 7 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200306040344/https://wst.tv/donaldson-wins-first-pro-title/ . 6 March 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Brilliant Brecel Wins Championship League . wst.tv . 11 June 2020 . July 4, 2020 . November 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126175355/https://wst.tv/brilliant-brecel-wins-championship-league/ . dead.
- Web site: Allen Crowned Champion Of Champions . wst.tv . 8 November 2020 . August 8, 2021 . April 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210421215209/https://wst.tv/allen-crowned-champion-of-champions/ . dead.
- Book: Hayton, Eric . The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker . 2004 . Rose Villa Publications . Suffolk . 978-0-9548549-0-4 . Introduction, 166, 167 & 171–186.
- Web site: 2019/20 Challenge Tour . wst.tv . 25 March 2019 . 8 August 2021 . November 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126203913/https://wst.tv/2019-20-challenge-tour/ . dead.
- Web site: Klekers King At Challenge Tour Eight . wst.tv . 19 January 2020 . 27 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127091232/https://wst.tv/kleckers-king-at-challenge-tour-eight/ . 27 January 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Challenge Tour 9 (2020) . Årdalen . Hermund . snooker.org . 21 March 2020 . no . July 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716134236/https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js?hash=f37c70f6a895633e5f800191989239e2 . live.
- Web site: Duffy Wins Challenge Tour Ten . wst.tv . 3 March 2020 . 4 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200221024351/https://wst.tv/challenge-tour-event-ten-draw/ . 21 February 2020 . dead.
- Web site: Taylor Made Up At Tour Return . wst.tv . 20 July 2020 . 20 July 2020 . 24 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024005944/https://wst.tv/taylor-made-up-at-tour-return/ . dead.
- Web site: World Seniors Snooker Tour . wpbsa.com . 27 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200527000000/https://www.wpbsa.com/play/world-seniors-snooker-tour/ . 27 May 2020 . live.
- Web site: White Completes Epic Comeback . wst.tv . 2020-08-23 . August 8, 2021 . September 13, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913045654/https://wst.tv/white-completes-epic-comeback/ . dead.
- Web site: Results (Belgian Women's Open 2020) . Årdalen . Hermund . snooker.org . 9 August 2021 . no . August 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809113342/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=22&event=912 . live .
- Web site: Hancorn Wins Historic Amateur Final - World Snooker . World Snooker . February 8, 2020. 6 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200220213003/https://wst.tv/hancorn-wins-historic-amateur-final/ . dead . February 20, 2020 .