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Peter Parka · Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:50 pm World Snooker

Champion Higgins to face Stevens
Defending champion John Higgins faces a tough first round match in the World Championship at The Crucible after being drawn against Matthew Stevens.

The Scot beat Mark Selby last year to lift the title but will need to be at his best against the two-time losing finalist from Wales.

Ronnie O'Sullivan plays 17-year-old qualifier Liu Chuang from China.

Stephen Hendry faces Mark Allen while Steve Davis meets Stuart Bingham in the Championship which starts on 19 April.

"There are no easy draws but Matthew is one of the toughest I could have got," said two-time champion Higgins.

"We've had some cracking matches over the years. I beat him 17-15 in the semi-finals in 2001, then the next year he thrashed me 13-7 in the quarters. I've got five or six weeks of solid practice now to get myself ready."

Liu shocked Dominic Dale 10-9 in the final qualifying round on Monday to become only the fourth 17-year-old to reach The Crucible.

"I'm very excited because Ronnie was my idol when I first started playing snooker at the age of 10," said Liu, who lost 5-1 to O'Sullivan at last season's China Open.

"I like the way he plays but I will be nervous when I go into the arena with him."

Liu's compatriot Ding Junhui also received a tough draw as he will face Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

The third player from mainland China in the draw, Liang Wenbo, is up against former champion Ken Doherty.

The in-form Selby also faces a tricky opener as he meets fellow Englishman Mark King, who ended Jimmy White's hopes of making the tournament with a 10-3 victory on Monday.

Two-time champion Mark Williams tackles Mark Davis and 2002 winner Peter Ebdon meets Jamie Cope.

The first-round draw in full:

Ken Doherty Ire v Liang Wenbo Chn John Higgins Sco v Matthew Stevens Wal Ali Carter Eng v Barry Hawkins Eng Ding Junhui Chn v Marco Fu HK Mark Selby Eng v Mark King Eng Peter Ebdon Eng v Jamie Cope Eng Neil Robertson Aus v Nigel Bond Eng Steve Davis Eng v Stuart Bingham Eng Ryan Day Wal v Michael Judge Eng Ronnie O'Sullivan Eng v Liu Chuang Chn Mark Williams Wal v Mark Davis Eng Graeme Dott Sco v Joe Perry Eng Shaun Murphy Eng v Dave Harold Eng Stephen Lee Eng v Joe Swail NI Stephen Hendry Sco v Mark Allen NI Stephen Maguire Sco v Anthony Hamilton Eng

The World Championship will be comprehensively covered on BBC TV, Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website, Ceefax and BBCi Text.
Story from BBC SPORT:

Few tasty first round matches there! :lol: