Selby To Meet Maflin At Crucible
Mark Selby will begin the defence of his Betfred World Championship title against Kurt Maflin at the Crucible in Sheffield on Saturday.
Selby won snooker’s biggest prize for the first time a year ago, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-14 in the final. And today’s random draw pitched him against world number 38 Maflin.
London-born Maflin, who has lived in Norway for the past decade, battled through three qualifying matches to earn a Crucible debut.
Five-time champion O’Sullivan will also meet a Crucible debutant having been drawn against Lancashire’s world number 81 Craig Steadman.
Welsh duo Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens will go head to head in a repeat of the 2000 final, which Williams won 18-16. And a Scottish derby will see Stephen Maguire take on debutant Anthony McGill.
China’s Ding Junhui will be up against Mark Davis, while Judd Trump will meet the fourth debutant, Stuart Carrington.
The full draw is below and for the match schedule click here
Mark Selby v Kurt Maflin
Stephen Maguire v Anthony McGill
Joe Perry v Zhang Anda
Shaun Murphy v Robin Hull
Barry Hawkins v Matthew Selt
Mark Allen v Ryan Day
Ali Carter v Alan McManus
Neil Robertson v Jamie Jones
Ding Junhui v Mark Davis
John Higgins v Rob Milkins
Marco Fu v Jimmy Robertson
Judd Trump v Stuart Carrington
Ricky Walden v Graeme Dott
Stuart Bingham v Robbie Williams
Mark Williams v Matthew Stevens
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Craig Steadman
The final stages of the Betfred World Championship run from April 18 to May 4.