Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, matches were originally limited to a maximum audience of 100. After the first day, all matches were played without any spectators. A number of professional players withdrew from the event, alongside 54 amateur players and a series of referees; in some cases matches were played between players without referees.[1]
The defending champion was Stuart Bingham who defeated Ryan Day 4–1 in the 2019 final. Bingham lost 0–4 to Ben Woollaston in the third round of the event. Judd Trump won the championship – his 17th career and sixth ranking title of the season – after a 4–3 defeat of Kyren Wilson in the final. Winning six events became the record for the most ranking titles in a season with the victory. The tournament featured a total of £251,000 with the winner receiving £50,000. In addition to the winners purse, Trump also secured £150,000 for scoring the most ranking points across the European Series. There was a total of 63 century breaks made during the event, the highest of which a 144 made by Trump in frame three of the final against Wilson.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, matches were originally limited to a maximum audience of 100.[8] After the first day, this restriction was tightened and matches were played without crowds.[9][10] As a number of tour referees were unable to travel to the venue as a result of the pandemic, some matches were played without referees, with players respotting balls for their opponents.[11][12] The event was broadcast by Eurosport across Europe.[3]
Prize fund
The event featured a total prize fund of £251,000 with the winner receiving £50,000.[13] This was an increase of £74,000 and £25,000 respectively from the 2019 event.[14] As part of the BetVictor European Series the player with the highest amount of prize money received from the four events won an additional £150,000.[15] Prior to the event, only Neil Robertson and Judd Trump were in contention for the prize.[16][17]
The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:[18][13]
Judd Trump won the event, his sixth title of the season
The first three rounds of the event were played on 13 and 14 March 2020.[20] Ben Woollaston defeated reigning Masters champion Stuart Bingham at the last 32 stage. Woollaston made breaks of 79 and 74 and eventually whitewashed Bingham 4–0.[21]Thepchaiya Un-Nooh won his last 32 stage match 4–0 over Harvey Chandler in just 43 minutes.[21] Three-time world champion Mark Williams defeated Martin Gould, but Mark Selby was defeated by Lyu Haotian.[21]Kyren Wilson made breaks of 76, 90 and 107 to defeat Luca Brecel 4–0.[21] Reigning world champion Judd Trump defeated native Gibraltan Lee Prickman, Brazil's Igor Figueiredo and Englishman Martin O'Donnell to reach the quarter-finals.[22]Joe Perry was defeated by Jimmy Robertson in the last 32, meaning he did not have enough ranking points to qualify for the following event, the 2020 Tour Championship.[22]Amine Amiri won the only main stage match of his two-year tour card, winning 4–3 over Adam Ashley.[23]
The final four rounds, from the last 16 onwards, were all played on 15 March.[20] Wilson defeated Fergal O'Brien on a deciding frame before winning over both Un-Nooh in the quarter-finals and Mark Williams in the semi-finals 4–0 each to reach the final.[24] Trump defeated three Chinese players, Li Hang, Liang Wenbo and Xiao Guodong to meet Wilson in the final.[24] The first frame of the best-of-seven frame final was won by Trump, who made a break of 125, with Wilson winning the second frame with a break of 115. Trump made a total clearance in his break of 144, before Wilson tied the score at 2–2.[25] Wilson won frame five, before Trump made his third century break of the final, a 123 to force a deciding frame.[25] Trump lead 52–0 but missed a black ball from its spot, but Wilson was unable to capitalise, allowing Trump to take the title with a break of 63 and win 4–3.[25] In winning the event, Trump gained enough prize money to win the BetVictor European Series, earning a bonus of £150,000.[26] This was also Trump's sixth ranking event win of the season, the most in a single season of any player. Trump commented: "To win six ranking titles in a season, something which no one else has ever done, is an amazing achievement for me... I wasn't thinking about that tonight until it got to 3–3."[25]
Main draw
Below is the full draw for the event. Players in bold denote match winners.[24]
Qualifying for the event featuring amateur players took place in Gibraltar on 11 and 12 March 2020. There were a total of four rounds with all matches being played as the best-of-5 frames.[7]
A total of 63 century breaks were made during the tournament.[27] Judd Trump made the highest break of the event, a 144, in frame three of the final against Kyren Wilson.[27]
Judd Trump (ENG) (144)
