World Championship 2020

The 2020 World Snooker Championship (officially the 2020 Betfred World Snooker Championship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 31 July to 16 August 2020 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the 44th consecutive year that the World Snooker Championship was held at the Crucible. The final ranking event of the 2019–20 snooker season, the tournament was originally scheduled to take place from 18 April to 4 May 2020, but both the qualifying stage and the main rounds were postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was one of the first to allow live audiences since the onset of the pandemic, but on the first day it was announced that the event would be played behind closed doors for subsequent days. A limited number of spectators were allowed in for the final two days of the championship.

The tournament was organised by the World Snooker Tour, a subsidiary of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, and was broadcast by the BBC, Eurosport and Matchroom Sport. The event had a total prize fund of £2,395,000, with the winner receiving £500,000. Qualifying for the tournament was due to be held between 8 and 15 April 2020 but instead took place from 21 to 28 July at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. There were 128 participants in the qualifying rounds, with a mix of professional and invited amateur players, 16 of whom reached the main stage of the tournament where they played the top 16 players in the snooker world rankings. The event was sponsored by sports betting company Betfred.

Judd Trump was the defending champion, having won his maiden world title at the previous year's event, defeating John Higgins 18–9 in the final. He lost in the quarter-final stage to Kyren Wilson, falling to the Crucible curse. Ronnie O'Sullivan won his sixth world title, defeating Wilson 18–8 in the final. This was O'Sullivan's 37th ranking event win of his career, the most of any player. Higgins made a maximum break in the 12th frame of his second-round loss to Kurt Maflin. This was Higgins' tenth career maximum break and his first at the World Championship; aged 45, he became the oldest player to make a maximum in a professional competition.

**World Snooker Championship 2020: Tournament Description**

The World Snooker Championship 2020, held at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, marked a significant chapter in the history of professional snooker. This prestigious tournament, renowned for its rich heritage and intense competition, brought together the world's elite players vying for the coveted title and the iconic World Championship trophy.

Scheduled from July 31 to August 16, 2020, the tournament was initially set for its traditional April dates but was postponed due to the global pandemic. The event featured a unique format, with strict health and safety protocols in place to ensure the well-being of players, officials, and fans. Despite the challenges, the championship showcased the resilience of the sport and the dedication of its participants.

With a total prize fund of £2,000,000, including a winner's share of £500,000, the stakes were higher than ever. The tournament featured a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, all eager to etch their names in snooker history. Fans were treated to thrilling matches, dramatic comebacks, and breathtaking displays of skill and strategy as players battled through the rounds, culminating in a gripping final.

The World Snooker Championship 2020 not only celebrated the sport's finest talents but also served as a testament to the enduring spirit of snooker during challenging times. As the final ball was potted and the champion crowned, the tournament left an indelible mark on the hearts of players and fans alike, reinforcing snooker's status as one of the most captivating sports in the world.