Seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan will start his bid for a record-breaking eighth World Snooker Championship title with a match towards China’s debutant He Guoqiang on the Crucible.
O’Sullivan, 50, will begin his first-round tie on the Sheffield theatre on Tuesday and conclude the match on Wednesday.
Sixteen gamers got here by qualifying this week on the English Institute of Sport and can be a part of the world’s high 16 ranked gamers on the match.
He, ranked forty seventh in the world, certified for the Crucible for the primary time with a win over England’s Jack Lisowski on Wednesday.
Zhao Xintong turned the primary Chinese participant to clinch the world title when he gained the 2025 occasion and shall be concerned in the primary session of the match on Saturday (10:00 BST).
He will face England’s Liam Highfield, who superior by 4 qualifying rounds.
The draw was made on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Thursday.
Elsewhere, world quantity one Judd Trump will tackle Gary Wilson and Masters champion Kyren Wilson shall be up towards 19-year-old debutant Stan Moody.
Four-time champion John Higgins faces two-time runner-up Ali Carter, whereas Mark Selby, additionally with 4 Crucible titles, performs 2024 runner-up Jak Jones.
The two different debutants England’s Liam Pullen and Poland’s Antoni Kowalski, will meet Chris Wakelin and three-time winner Mark Williams respectively.
O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry each have probably the most world titles in the fashionable period with seven apiece, with O’Sullivan profitable his first one 25 years in the past, in 2001.
