▁each ▁group . ▁The ▁winning ▁semi - final ists ▁competed ▁for ▁the ▁title ▁in ▁a ▁best - of - five ▁final s ▁series , ▁with ▁the ▁home ▁ice ▁advantage ▁going ▁to ▁the ▁team ▁that ▁finished ▁highest ▁in ▁the ▁league . ▁ ▁Qu arter - Final ▁Group ▁A ▁ ▁Qu arter - Final ▁Group ▁B ▁ ▁N TL : ▁Christmas ▁Cup ▁The ▁third ▁Christmas ▁Cup ▁campaign ▁was ▁open ▁to ▁the ▁ten ▁British ▁National ▁League ▁clubs ▁and ▁played ▁on ▁a ▁knock out ▁basis ▁over ▁the ▁Christmas ▁and ▁New ▁Year ▁period . ▁The ▁draw ▁for ▁the ▁quarter - final s ▁was ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁league ' s ▁final ▁stand ings ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 / 1 9 9 9 ▁with ▁first ▁playing ▁e ighth , ▁second ▁playing ▁sevent h ▁and ▁so ▁on . ▁The ▁last ▁placed ▁sides , ▁Edinburgh ▁Capit als ▁and ▁P ais ley ▁Pir ates , ▁first ▁played ▁off ▁against ▁league ▁new com ers , ▁Mil ton ▁Ke yn es ▁Kings ▁and ▁Sol ih ull ▁Bla ze , ▁for ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁enter ▁the ▁competition ▁proper . ▁The ▁Cup ▁was ▁spons ored ▁by ▁tele com s ▁and ▁cable ▁TV ▁company , ▁n tl : , ▁the ▁league ' s ▁new ▁partner . ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁ ▁Bas ing st oke ▁B ison ▁web ▁site ▁ ▁Category : S port ▁in ▁Bas ing st oke ▁Bas <0x0A> </s> ▁Kn uth ▁reward ▁checks ▁are ▁checks ▁or ▁check - like ▁certific ates ▁awarded ▁by ▁computer ▁scient ist ▁Donald ▁Kn uth ▁for ▁finding ▁technical , ▁typ