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.