World Snooker Championship: First round draw

Favourite O’Sullivan to face Page
Brecel begins defence against Gilbert
Trump takes on Vafaei

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World Snooker Championship: Favourite O’Sullivan drawn against Page in first round

Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to kick off his quest for an unprecedented eighth World Championship title in the modern era against Jackson Page in the tournament’s opening round. O’Sullivan, at 48, also has his sights on joining an elite group of players who have won all three Triple Crown events in a single season.

The action begins this Saturday at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with live coverage provided by the BBC. Defending champion Luca Brecel will take on David Gilbert, while 2019 winner Judd Trump faces Hossein Vafaei.

Notable matchups include four-time champion Mark Selby against Joe O’Connor, the sole debutant in the draw who earned his spot through qualifying. Additionally, John Higgins, another four-time winner, will face Jamie Jones, who secured his place by defeating 2010 champion Neil Robertson in the final round of qualifying.

Mark Williams, a three-time champion, will have a challenging opener against Si Jiahui, a semifinalist from the previous year. Meanwhile, Mark Allen, with three titles this season, will start his campaign against Robbie Williams, and Shaun Murphy, the 2005 winner, will take on Lyu Haotian.

Fans can also anticipate an exciting clash between Ding Junhui and Jack Lisowski, as well as Gary Wilson facing Stuart Bingham, another former champion.

One of the highlights of the tournament is O’Sullivan’s dominance, with five titles already secured this season, including the UK Championship and the Masters. This has made him the bookmakers’ favorite to clinch yet another victory. Although O’Sullivan has previously defeated Page in their encounters, the Welshman is considered one of the sport’s most promising talents, recently reaching the semi-finals of the World Open.

Page’s momentum was evident in his final-frame triumph over world number 22 Noppon Saengkham in the qualifying rounds, sealed with a superb break of 107. This sets the stage for an intriguing showdown between O’Sullivan’s experience and Page’s rising star status. With such compelling matchups and storylines, fans can expect an exhilarating tournament at the Crucible Theatre.