World Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Stephen Maguire; Mark Selby plays Joe Perry

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Last updated on 19 April 2018.From the section Snooker140

2018 World Championship
Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 21 April - 7 May
Coverage: Watch live across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Red Button, Connected TV, the BBC Sport website and mobile app. Full coverage details

Five-time winner and favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan faces a difficult first round match against Stephen Maguire at the World Championship in Sheffield.

Defending champion Mark Selby, chasing a fourth title in five years, plays Joe Perry, while last year's beaten finalist John Higgins was drawn against Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

China's Ding Junhui is up against fellow countryman Xiao Guodong.

Selby begins his quest on Saturday at 10:00 BST, live on BBC TV and online.

What makes the perfect snooker player?

Watch the moment Selby clinched third world title

The draw, originally scheduled for 10:00 on Thursday, was delayed by two hours because of technical issues at the venue.

World number 22 Perry called it "an absolute joke" as qualifiers like himself "have no idea when we are playing, have to book hotels and make travel plans".

O'Sullivan is chasing a record sixth ranking title of the season and his match against Maguire (14:30 on Saturday) is the standout tie of the opening round.

'The Rocket' beat Scotland's Maguire in the semi-finals en route to winning the UK Championship and World Grand Prix earlier this season.

O'Sullivan v Maguire: Matches played - 22
Wins: O'Sullivan 18-4 Maguire	Frame wins: O'Sullivan 131-87 Maguire	Ranking titles: O'Sullivan 33-5 Maguire

Elsewhere, Masters champion Mark Allen plays debutant Liam Highfield, former world champion Stuart Bingham faces Jack Lisowski, Judd Trump faces Chris Wakelin and Hong Kong's Marco Fu was drawn against world number 68 Lyu Haotian, the lowest ranked player in the draw.

Welshman Jamie Jones is rewarded for his 10-0 qualifying win against China's Liang Wenbo with a first round encounter against 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "The standard is absolutely incredible. It has been a long, hard season, there has been a lot of travelling involved but we are approaching the end now and someone will be crowned the world champion."

Coverage of the tournament is live across BBC online, TV and radio, with the final taking place on 6 and 7 May.

World Championship schedule & BBC coverage times

Full first round draw

Mark Selby v Joe Perry

Mark Allen v Liam Highfield

Kyren Wilson v Matthew Stevens

Shaun Murphy v Jamie Jones

John Higgins v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Stuart Bingham v Jack Lisowski

Luca Brecel v Ricky Walden

Judd Trump v Chris Wakelin

Ding Junhui v Xiao Guodong

Anthony McGill v Ryan Day

Marco Fu v Lyu Haotian

Barry Hawkins v Stuart Carrington

Mark Williams v Jimmy Robertson

Neil Robertson v Robert Milkins

Ali Carter v Graeme Dott

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Stephen Maguire

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140 comments

Comment posted by A right wing pigs ear, at 14:09 19 Apr 2018
38. RedDevil69

'Boring!!! Why do I pay a license fee for this drivel.'

A Man Utd fan complaining about 'boring' sport? A bit rich considering the tedious banal drivel that spoilt brat Mourinho has dolled out to the corporate twits in the stands and the pseudo football Utd 'fans' on their sofas.
Comment posted by Adil , at 13:31 19 Apr 2018
I do think Ronnie needs to stop calling players who are working hard to earn a living as ‘numpties’. We neve heard that fro
Davis, Hendry and Higgins, he does not need to do that. Needs to show more respect to players who are trying but don’t have his talent.
Comment posted by speighty, at 13:25 19 Apr 2018
Cant wait to hear "where's the cue ball going" every time the white goes near the cushion.
Comment posted by Grrrr, at 13:26 19 Apr 2018
Looking forward to this but it would be nice if the BBC could get over their fetish of showing every shot from inside the pocket. Yes you have some new toys but why can't we see the whole table? Show the arty-farty stuff as a replay
Comment posted by PaulHTFC, at 14:19 19 Apr 2018
38. Posted by RedDevil69
on
13 minutes ago

Boring!!! Why do I pay a license fee for this drivel. Snooker is a poor mans sport enjoyed by the less fortunate in society

Why comment then ?

I hate motor racing but would never use sports forums for my dislike of that sport..

Timewaster
Comment posted by User0116064281, at 12:58 19 Apr 2018
Where is Jimmy White?

Give the man a bye to the Final, and a 10 frame headstart in that. We want Jimmy to win.

Still gutted he missed that black on the final frame when in the balls in the deciding frame v Hendry in one of them finals back in the day...
Comment posted by Super D Boon, at 16:11 19 Apr 2018
BBC stop it with the flippant "get with the programme" type language you use! It's not the "Worlds" it's the "World Championships!" It's not the "Commonwealths" it's the "Commonwealth Games!"

Also, Gabby Logan's horrible "down with the kids" language really grates for a woman in her middle years. For example, athletes do not "medal", they "win a medal". Please improve standards!
Comment posted by The Magician, at 12:52 19 Apr 2018
Difficult first round draw for Ronnie, but great for the spectators!
Really hope Ronnie can go all the way again this year
Comment posted by User0552710576, at 13:43 19 Apr 2018
Looking forward to see the 32 regulars. Don't mean the players though, I mean the spectators.
There'll be the Coventry lad, the Aussie guy, & the lady with the pearl necklace.
Also the handful of lasses that are always there, plus the guy who seems to be at every tournament, always in the front row.
Comment posted by User0896478361, at 16:00 19 Apr 2018
80

Disgusting Below the belt comment, dragging a persons family history into your distaste for them. I'm a firm Ronnie fan & have always known his past. His fathers discreations are not his.

If you don't like him don't watch him & keep your spiteful & ultimately pointless comments to yourself.
Comment posted by silkman59, at 13:26 19 Apr 2018
@9 Eggman

Why would you watch it for eight hours if you don't like it. Presumably you've not quite worked out how to change TV stations ?
Comment posted by parping, at 15:23 19 Apr 2018
watched every world championship since 1980 - for me it's a nostalgia thing - i've loved,loathed and been neutral in equal measures to the various winners over the years. but it's always been there essentially unchanged , except for the booze and fags which i miss in my own life as well. My favourite moments were Higgins in 82 and Johnson in 86 - hope someone does a Johnson this year
Comment posted by Adil , at 12:56 19 Apr 2018
Ronnie, Selby and Higgins all have tough ties, imagine all three out first round! They are probably the three top favourites for the title.
Comment posted by BASMANIAC, at 14:50 19 Apr 2018
48

Virgo the best commentator? What are you listening to? When he "commentated" on an O'Sullivan match, he was so biased in favour of O'Sullivan that I have now stopped listening to his one-sided ramblings
Comment posted by Joeinbrighton, at 15:10 19 Apr 2018
56. If Jimmy White still could beat these "current flops", he would have got through qualifying, instead of losing to Joe Perry.
Comment posted by BASMANIAC, at 15:53 19 Apr 2018
84

You dislike snooker so much, why are you here?
Comment posted by valjester, at 21:19 19 Apr 2018
A great sport; chess with balls. If you don't like it, don't watch it.
Comment posted by geow93, at 16:15 19 Apr 2018
Best two weeks of the year
Comment posted by alferexey, at 21:24 19 Apr 2018
@108 "why would anyone watch eurosport over ad free bbc"

Well the ads are annoying, but plus points are live at all times and HD. BBC has no HD on the red button and only an hour live in the evenings then back to no HD and practically no live sessions in the morning. Please BBC sort out HD on the red button. Also C Murray and J White better than Hazel and Steve
Comment posted by Kane9, at 17:18 19 Apr 2018
I think Mark Williams is a dark horse, also expecting a good run from chubster Murphy. Watch out for Luca Brecel, he has unfinished business having thrown away a 7-1 lead against Fu last year.

Prediction: Ding wins his first worlds; Maguire shocks Ronnie 1st round. Selby bores everyone to death.

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