Ronnie O’Sullivan will begin his bid for a record eighth World Snooker Championship title with a first-round clash against debutant He Guoqiang on Tuesday at the Crucible.
The 25-year-old Chinese qualifier arrives in confident form after eliminating world number 18 Jack Lisowski and notably holds a winning record over O’Sullivan, having beaten him twice in their three previous meetings.
O’Sullivan is aiming to move clear of Stephen Hendry, with both currently tied on seven modern-era world titles.
Guoqiang is part of a strong Chinese contingent of 11 players in this year’s tournament, including reigning champion Zhao Xintong, who opens proceedings against Liam Highfield on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mark Allen faces a tough opening test against Zhang Anda, who impressed in qualifying with a five-century display.
Teenage qualifier Stan Moody takes on 2024 champion Kyren Wilson, while Liam Pullen meets Chris Wakelin.
Elsewhere, four-time champion John Higgins plays Ali Carter in one of the standout first-round ties, with a potential second-round showdown against O’Sullivan on the line.
Other notable matchups include Mark Selby versus Jak Jones, and Judd Trump against Gary Wilson.
The tournament gets underway on Saturday, with Zhao’s opening match headlining the first session.
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