- By Steve Sutcliffe
- BBC Sport
‘He’s the best participant in the world’ – watch O’Sullivan’s finest pictures from ultimate
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Betfred World Championship |
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Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates:16 April-2 May |
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Coverage: Watch stay on BBC TV and Red Button with uninterrupted protection on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport web site and the BBC Sport app |
Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will face debutant Pang Junxu in the World Championship first round.
O’Sullivan is looking for an eighth world title – which might be a file in the fashionable period – after beating fellow Englishman Judd Trump final 12 months to equal Stephen Hendry’s tally of seven.
Trump, the 2019 champion, faces a tricky opener against Scottish qualifier Anthony McGill, a former semi-finalist.
England’s four-time winner Mark Selby performs compatriot Matthew Selt.
Thursday’s draw was broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. The event begins on Saturday on the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with stay protection throughout the BBC.
Scotland’s John Higgins – one other four-time champion – will meet David Grace, who secured his place on the skilled circuit throughout qualifying however misplaced in the first round when he made his solely different look on the Crucible in 2016
Shaun Murphy will play China’s Si Jiahui, in a repeat of their 2021 UK Championship assembly, which led to an an outburst from the 2005 world champion after he suffered a stunning first-round loss to the-then teenage novice.
Three-time winner Mark Williams performs Jimmy Robertson, whereas UK champion Mark Allen takes on Chinese debutant Fan Zhengyi, who defeated Stephen Maguire to succeed in the first round.
There can be the prospect of an entertaining encounter between England’s Jack Lisowski, who reached the quarter-finals in 2022, and Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham, whereas Joe Perry, who stated he was “physically sick” after beating Mark Davis to qualify, returns after failing to succeed in the previous three World Championships, and performs the Welsh Open winner Robert Milkins.
Neil Robertson’s quest for a second world title, 13 years after his first, begins against Chinese teenager Wu Yize. Two-time finalist Ali Carter will play Welsh qualifier Jak Jones and 2020 finalist Kyren Wilson takes on Ryan Day.
Elsewhere, Belgium’s Luca Brecel performs Ricky Walden, a Crucible semi-finalist a decade in the past, 16th seed Ding Junhui is up against Iran’s world quantity 23 Hossein Vafaei, 2015 winner Stuart Bingham performs David Gilbert and Gary Wilson meets Elliot Slessor.
First-round draw in full:
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Pang Junxu
Ding Junhui v Hossein Vafaei
Luca Brecel v Ricky Walden
Mark Williams v Jimmy Robertson
Judd Trump v Anthony McGill
Jack Lisowski v Noppon Saengkham
Robert Milkins v Joe Perry
Stuart Bingham v David Gilbert
John Higgins v David Grace
Gary Wilson v Elliot Slessor
Mark Selby v Matthew Selt