Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has been drawn to face Ali Carter in the first round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The 49-year-old, who is seeded fifth, defeated Carter in the 2008 and 2012 finals at the Crucible.
O’Sullivan has not played competitively since snapping his cue after withdrawing from the Championship League in January.
He pulled out of five of the last six World Snooker Tour events on medical grounds and has yet to confirm if he will play in this year’s tournament.
Kyren Wilson will begin his title defence against Lei Peifan when action starts on Saturday morning, while world number one Judd Trump – the 2019 winner – has been paired with Zhou Yuelong.
Four-time champion Mark Selby, who was in Salford to help conduct the draw on Thursday morning, is set to face fellow Leicester native Ben Woollaston.
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