Snooker:Antrim's Mark Allen will meet Matthew Stevens in the first round of the World Snooker Championship after the draw was made this morning. Allen, the only Irish player in this year's finals, will take on the two-time finalist when the event gets underway in Sheffield on April 16th.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins were today handed tough-looking first-round encounters. O’Sullivan, who has tumbled to 10th in the rankings, faces Welshman Dominic Dale, while world number one and fellow three-time champion Higgins takes on Stephen Lee.
Defending champion Neil Robertson was drawn to meet rising star Judd Trump and seven-time champion Stephen Hendry will meet Joe Perry.
Resurgent two-time world champion Mark Williams, who is closing in on Higgins at the top of the rankings, faces fellow Welshman Ryan Day in another difficult-looking contest.
Ding Junhui, tipped by many to land his maiden world title, meets Jamie Burnett, former champion Shaun Murphy takes on Marcus Campbell and Stephen Maguire was handed a match with Barry Hawkins.
First round draw
Jamie Cope v Andrew Pagett
Ding Junhui v Jamie Burnett
John Higgins v Stephen Lee
Neil Robertson v Judd Trump
Mark Allen v Matthew Stevens
Ricky Walden v Rory McLeod
Mark Williams v Ryan Day
Stephen Maguire v Barry Hawkins
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Dominic Dale
Shaun Murphy v Marcus Campbell
Graeme Dott v Mark King
Stephen Hendry v Joe Perry
Ali Carter v Dave Harold
Peter Ebdon v Stuart Bingham
Mark Selby v Jimmy Robertson
Marco Fu v Martin Gould