Snooker: O'Sullivan given Ebdon opener

Ronnie O'Sullivan will face Peter Ebdon in the first round of the World Championship. Ebdon, the 2002 world champion, was the player the seeds wanted to avoid after he won the China Open this month.

John Higgins will begin the defence of his title against China's Liang Wenbo on Saturday 21 April, the first day at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The 17-year-old Belgian Luca Brecel will face Scotland's Stephen Maguire.