Baronial Hall
Crondon Park Golf and Country Club
Stock
Essex
CM4 9DP
www.matchroomsport.com
www.performgroup.com
www.crondon.com
17 January 2008
2008 Championship League Snooker
Championship League Snooker is a brand new snooker event devised exclusively for internet broadcast. A total of 25 players will compete over 16 days of play starting on Monday 25th February and taking place in four day blocks with the final match of the competition taking place on Thursday 15th May.
With a total prize-fund of £179,200 on offer as well as a coveted spot in Matchroom Sport’s 2008 Premier League Snooker, there is everything to play for. All matches will take place in the historic Baronial Hall at Crondon Park Golf Club, in Stock, Essex.
Click on "Read More..." for the details.
Seven players initially start proceedings in Group One as they play each other once over four frames. The top four move into that group’s play-offs, while the bottom two players are eliminated from the competition.
Following best-of-seven semi-finals and then the final, the successful player will then return for the final ‘Winners’ Group’ where there is big money at stake as well as a spot in the Premier League.
Following the conclusion of the first group, the four players who remain, reconvene in Group 2, to be joined by three new players to make up the seven. This format then continues through to Group 7, which once complete, will provide seven players to contest the final group.
All players will be invited from the snooker world rankings although players already selected for the Premier League will not be involved.
Players win £100 per frame won in each group match which increases to £200 in the play-offs and there will be additional prize money for the play-offs and the final league.
Group 1 – February 25 & 26
To be selected from:
Shaun Murphy (Rotherham)
Ken Doherty (Dublin)
Neil Robertson (Melbourne)
Mark Williams (Cardiff)
Mark Selby (Leicester)
Ryan Day (Mid-Glamorgan)
Allister Carter (Tiptree)
Barry Hawkins (Dartford)
Matthew Stevens (Carmarthen)
Joe Perry (Chatteris)
All players appear subject to contract.
2008 Championship League Snooker – the Schedule
Group 1 - February 25 & 26 (Monday, Tuesday)
Group 2 - February 27 & 28 (Wednesday, Thursday)
Group 3 - March 10 & 11 (Monday, Tuesday)
Group 4 – March 12 & 13 (Wednesday, Thursday)
Group 5 - April 14 & 15 (Monday, Tuesday)
Group 6 – April 16 & 17 (Wednesday, Thursday)
Group 7 - May 12 & 13 (Monday, Tuesday)
Group 8 (Winners Group) May 14 & 15 (Wednesday, Thursday)
2008 Championship League Snooker - Playing Format
Each group is played over two days with each of the seven competitors playing each other once over the best of four frames. There are a total of 21 matches per group with two points for a win and a point each for a 2-2 draw.
At the conclusion of the round robin stage of each group, the top four players will advance to a play-off conclusion with both the semi-finals and the final being the best of seven frames.
The winner will then advance to the final Winners’ Group taking place in May while the bottom two players drop out of the competition.
The other four players stay in the tournament to compete in the next group along with three new players.
The schedule of each group sees two tables in operation from 2pm – 10pm with six matches per table, making a total of 12 matches on the first day.
The second day of play sees the remaining nine matches take place plus the three play-off games to give a further 12 matches.
Championship League Snooker will produce a total of 192 matches over the entire tournament.
Group Matches - 21 games x 4 frames x £100 per frame won x 7 groups:
£58,800
Group Play-Offs – 3 games x 7 frames x £200 per frame won x 7 groups:
£29,400
Group Play-Offs – Losing semis (x 2) £1,000 x 7 groups
£14,000
Runner-up £2,000 x 7 groups
£14,000
Winner £3,000 X 7 groups
£21,000
Final Group - 21 matches x 4 frames x £200
£16,800
Play-Offs - Best of 7 frame matches @ £200 per frame won x 3 matches
£4,200
Play-Offs - Losing semi-finalists (x 2) - £3,000
£6,000
Runner-up – £5,000
£5,000
Winner – £10,000
£10,000
Total Prize Fund
£179,200
For further information please contact:
Luke Riches
Media Director
Matchroom Sport
Tel: +44 7785395688
Additional information
The Championship is a joint venture between Matchroom Sport and Perform and has already been confirmed by online betting portals Bet365, Betfair and William Hill with additional partners in negotiation.
About Matchroom
Founded in 1982, Matchroom Sport are responsible for producing nearly 900 hours of televised sport on an annual basis. Working across nine sports – snooker, pool, tenpin bowling, fishing, bowls, boxing, darts, poker and golf – Matchroom provide programming for many major broadcasters across the globe. Lead by charismatic Chairman, Barry Hearn, the company are renowned for their innovative approach to sports broadcasting.
www.matchroomsport.com
About Perform
Perform is a world leader in monetising sports and entertainment rights in digital media and has been a consistent and renowned innovator since 2000, and a major driving force in the commercialisation of sport and entertainment rights online, on mobile and on TV.
Perform provides a range of user friendly, end-to-end products and services for businesses involved in sport and entertainment rights:
· Services: We provide the platform and tools that enable rights holders to place, manage and monetise their content online and on mobile.
· Channels: We own and distribute branded and white label sport and entertainment channels for broadcast online and on mobile.
· Sales: We sell advertising, sponsorship and content partnerships around sport and entertainment on a wide network of UK and international web and mobile sites.
Perform operates over 200 websites including those for over 80 UK Football Clubs, Cricket Australia, Warner Music, ITV, Turner Broadcasting and works with various rights holders, including The Premier League, Virgin Media and the ATP Masters Series.
www.performgroup.com