History-chasing Ronnie O'Sullivan will start the World Snooker Championship against Jackson Page as reigning champion Luca Brecel faces David Gilbert.
The sport’s best take to the green baize at the Crucible from Saturday, with the winner crowned in Sheffield on Sunday, 6 May.
Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan begins his quest for an unprecedented eighth title of the modern era against 22-year-old Welshman Page this weekend.
The Rocket is attempting to become the fourth player to complete the Triple Crown in the same season, with Steve Davis (1987-88), Stephen Hendry (1989-90, 1995-96) and Mark Williams (2002-03) the players to previously manage the feat.
Brecel beat Mark Selby in last year’s final and the Belgian gets his defence under way against Gilbert.
Last year’s runner-up Selby will take on Joe O’Connor in all-Leicester encounter, while third seed Judd Trump will play Hossein Vafaei in an exciting first-round clash.
Fourth seed Mark Allen faces Robbie Williams in the first round, with sixth seed Mark Williams taking on Si Jiahui.
Draw for first round
Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Robert Milkins v Pang Junxu
Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Shaun Murphy v Lyu Haotian
Mark Selby v Joe O'Connor
Kyren Wilson v Dominic Dale
John Higgins v Jamie Jones
Mark Allen v Robbie Williams
Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
Mark Williams v Si Jiahui
Ding Junhui v Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson v Stuart Bingham
Barry Hawkins v Ryan Day
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Jackson Page
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