30th December to 5th January
The biggest tournament in January starts on Friday co-hosted by China and Russia. Shanghai and Vladivostok are the two cities showcasing the FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2020 until the 26th January. The time control type is standard over twelve rounds featuring two players. This year the traditional Boxing Day test cricket only produced two matches. These are Australia against New Zealand and South Africa against England. Melbourne has already produced a record crowd attendance for any cricket test match and it looks like the local supporters will not be disappointed as the hosts are in a strong position to win the second test and wrap up the series. In Centurion things are much more evenly poised and with three days remaining, we appear to be heading for a result. The same teams will resume another test match starting on Thursday. Nashville is the home of country music and is therefore also the best city to host the UCWDC Country Dance World Championship from tomorrow until Sunday.
We are on day 13 of the PDC William Hill Darts World Championship with the champion to be decided on Wednesday. The tournament is already famous for the achievement of Fallon Sherrock becoming the first woman to win a match and subsequently two consecutive matches. This will certainly pave the way for future stars to emerge. Marathon ski or the Worldloppet season resumes with round four in Changchun. The Vasaloppet China is over 50 kilometres. So far this year the new season started in Argentina, followed by Australia and New Zealand. It seems like the break has been too short as the new Tennis season is already upon us. The Australian Open is of course the main event we are heading towards later in January. Shenzhen in China hosts a WTA tournament starting on Saturday, while Brisbane, Perth and Sydney will be hosts to the ATP Cup starting on Friday. Lastly, Harbin in China starts 2020 with the ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup on Saturday.
Air Sports
Friday to 18th January - 10th FAI Women's World Gliding Championship - Lake Keepit, Australia
Bobsleigh
Friday to Saturday - BMW IBSF World Cup - Winterberg, Germany
Saturday - European Championships - Winterberg, Germany
Chess
Friday to 26th January - Women's World Chess Championship 2020 - Shanghai, China and Vladivostok, Russia
Cricket
26th December to Monday - Australia v New Zealand (2nd Test) - Melbourne, Australia; South Africa v England (1st Test) - Centurion, South Africa
Friday to 7th January - Australia v New Zealand (3rd Test) - Sydney, Australia; South Africa v England (2nd Test) - Cape Town, South Africa
Sunday - India v Sri Lanka (1st T20I) - Guwahati, India
Dance Sports
29th December to Sunday - Country Dance World Championships - Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Darts
13th December to Wednesday - William Hill World Championship - London, England
Equestrian
27th December to Monday - FEI Multi-Event World Cup - Mechelen, Belgium
Wednesday to Saturday - FEI Jumping World Cup - Abu Dhabi UAE
Sunday - FEI Jumping World Cup - Dannevirke, New Zealand
Fencing
Saturday - Junior Men's and Women's World Cup (sabre) - Budapest, Hungary
Saturday to 6th January - Junior Men's and Women's World Cup (foil/épée) - Udine, Italy
Golf
Thursday to Sunday - Sentry Tournament of Champions - Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
Ice Hockey
26th December to Thursday - 2020 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship - Bratislava, Slovakia
26th December to Sunday - 2020 IIHF U20 Men's World Championship - Ostrava/Trinec, Czech Republic
Thursday to 8th January - 2020 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship Division I, Group B - Katowice, Poland
Friday to 9th January - 2020 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship Division I, Group A - Fussen, Germany
Luge
Tuesday to Thursday - FIL Junior European Championships - Winterberg, Germany
Friday to Sunday - FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track - Obdach-Winterleiten, Austria
Saturday to Sunday - FIL Junior Luge World Cup on Natural Track - Jaufental, Italy
Marathon Ski
Saturday - Vasaloppet China 50 km - Changchun, China
Motor Racing
Sunday to 17th January - Dakar Rally - Saudi Arabia
Mountaineering
Friday to Sunday - 2019-2020 Ice Climbing World Cup Tour - Changchun City, China
Racketlon
Friday to Sunday - World Tour - CHA Thailand Open - Pattaya, Thailand; IWT Vienna New Year Classics - Vienna, Austria
Running
Tuesday - Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana - Madrid, Spain
Sunday - Xiamen Marathon - Xiamen, China
Skeleton
Sunday - BMW IBSF World Cup - Winterberg, Germany
Ski & Snowboarding
Tuesday to Wednesday - FIS Cross-Country World Cup - Toblach, Italy; FIS Men's Jumping World Cup - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Friday to Saturday - FIS Men's Jumping World Cup - Innsbruck, Austria
Friday to Sunday - FIS Cross-Country World Cup - Val di Fiemme, Italy
Saturday to Sunday - Audi FIS Ski World Cup Snow Queen Trophy 2020 - Zagreb, Croatia
Sunday to 6th January - FIS Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom World Cup - Lackenhof, Austria; FIS Men's Jumping World Cup - Bischofshofen, Austria
Tennis
Friday to 12th January - ATP Cup - Brisbane/Perth/Sydney - Australia
Saturday to 11th January - Shenzhen Open (WTA) - Shenzhen, China
Triathlon
Saturday - 2020 Harbin ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup - Harbin, China