World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan will be looking to better last year’s quarter-final exit by opening up with a 888.com World Championship victory against Stoke’s Dave Harold, his opponent still going strong at a sprightly 40 years of age.

Defending champion Shaun Murphy will begin the defence of his 888.com World Championship title against Thailand’s James Wattana when this year’s prestigious tournament gets underway on April 15.

World champion Shaun Murphy was unable to fend off a spirited fightback from Neil Robertson as he crashed out in the Northern Ireland Trophy quarter-finals.