Ireland’s Ken Doherty will begin his Embassy World Championship campaign next month against England’s Shaun Murphy. In the draw for the first round of the game's premier event, made in Torquay this morning, the former world champion from Dublin was paired with the highly regarded 20 year-old who has the capability to cause an upset.
Peter Ebdon will open the defence of his title against Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene. Greene, a fast potting left-hander, has already jumped 21 places to 42nd in the provisional world rankings this season and is sure to go higher. Ebdon, who has not reached a final since triumphing in dramatic fashion at the Crucible last year by beating Stephen Hendry 18-17, will need to be sharp to prevent a surprise opening day exit.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, the bookmakers' favourite to collect the record Stg£260,000 first prize, is thrown in at the deep end against Hong Kong's Marco Fu. Paul Hunter, the twice Masters champion who many believe has world title credentials, also faces a difficult task. He will face Ali Carter, a renowned giantkiller making his Crucible debut.
Mark Williams, who currently holds a healthy lead at the top of the provisional world rankings, John Higgins and Hendry will all be odds on to reach the last 16. Williams, looking for a notable hat-trick after already lifting the UK Championship and Benson and Hedges Masters trophies this season, kicks off his campaign against Crucible debutant Stuart Pettman. Higgins tackles Ian McCulloch while Hendry, in search of his eighth Embassy world crown, meets the former world number five Gary Wilkinson.
Former champions Steve Davis and John Parrott must roll back the clock to progress. Davis, at 45 easily the oldest of the 32 competitors at the Crucible this year, plays Stephen Lee, while Parrott faces Australia's Quinten Hann, a talented but unpredictable character who has often fallen victim to self-destructive frustration.
The legion of Jimmy White fans will also be pleased with the draw that pits the Whirlwind against the Thai-phoon. White, yet to win a match in a world ranking event this season, will play Thailand's former world number three James Wattana, who has endured an extended slump and is not the force he was when battling through to the Crucible semi-finals in 1997.
Embassy World Championship (April 19 - May 5)
First Round: Peter Ebdon (Eng) v Gerard Greene (NIrl), Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Marco Fu (Hkg), Mark Williams (Wal) v Stuart Pettman (Eng), John Higgins (Sco) v Ian McCulloch (Eng), Ken Doherty (Irl) v Shaun Murphy (Eng), Stephen Hendry (Sco) v Gary Wilkinson (Eng), Stephen Lee (Eng) v Steve Davis (Eng), Matthew Stevens (Wal) v Chris Small (Sco), Paul Hunter (Eng) v Ali Carter (Eng), Jimmy White (Eng) v James Wattana (Tha), Mark King (Eng) v Drew Henry (Sco), Graeme Dott (Sco) v Rob Milkins (Eng), Joe Perry (Eng) v Sean Storey (Eng), Quinten Hann (Aus) v John Parrott (Eng), Alan McManus (Sco) v Nigel Bond (Eng), Joe Swail (NIrl) v Tony Drago (Mlt)
Filed by James Boylan.
