Rocket faces tough start

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN faces the toughest possible start to his defence of the Embassy world title next month.

Title-holder and world number one O’Sullivan must tackle Scottish star Stephen Maguire over the best of 19 frames at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on April 16. It will be the fourth time the pair have met this season with the record 2-1 in Maguire’s favour.

However, O’Sullivan won their last meeting in the Irish Masters and on Maguire’s Crucible debut, O’Sullivan was his first round conqueror.