Defending champion Mark Selby will tackle Jamie Jones within the first spherical of the World Championship whereas Ronnie O’Sullivan faces a difficult opener in opposition to David Gilbert.
Selby collected his fourth world title final 12 months by beating Shaun Murphy within the last however the Leicester potter has did not raise a trophy this season and has opened up about his psychological well being struggles.
He’ll start the defence of his crown in Sheffield on Saturday morning, when the event will get underneath manner, in opposition to his Welsh opponent in a match that concludes within the night.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has a difficult opener within the first spherical of the World Championship (John Walton/PA)
(PA Wire)
O’Sullivan, presently high of the rankings, will begin his quest to equal Stephen Hendry’s document of seven world titles by going through qualifier Gilbert, a semi-finalist on the Crucible three years in the past.
Murphy has been handed an unenviable first-round match in opposition to former UK Championship winner Stephen Maguire whereas Hossein Vafaei, the primary Iranian to qualify for the Crucible, takes on Judd Trump.
“I make my folks completely satisfied and make them proud, they’ve somebody within the snooker finals,” mentioned Vafaei, the world quantity 19, after beating Lei Peifan in a final-frame shootout on Wednesday to qualify for the principle draw.
Neil Robertson gained the Masters in January and has been tipped by many to get his arms on a second world title this 12 months, and the Australian, champion in 2010, faces Crucible debutant Ashley Hugill.
Kyren Wilson and Ding Junhui go head-to-head within the battle of two former finalists whereas ex-champions John Higgins and Mark Williams have been paired with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Michael White respectively.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
