Tough start in line for Ebdon

Peter Ebdon will open the defence of his Embassy World Championship title at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield next month against a player in the best form of his career.

In the draw for the first round of the game’s premier event, made at the Palace Hotel, Torquay this morning, Ebdon was paired with Gerard Greene, a fast potting left-hander who has already jumped 21 places to 42nd in the provisional world rankings this season and is sure to go higher.

Ebdon, who has not reached a final since triumphing in dramatic fashion at the Crucible last year by beating Stephen Hendry 18-17, will need to be sharp to prevent a surprise opening day exit.

Greene appeared in the quarter-finals of the LG Cup in October, beat Jimmy White in the European Open ten days ago and romped to a 10-3 victory over Anthony Hamilton in the final qualifying round on Wednesday.

Ray Reardon, the six-times world champion, and Chris Small, who defied pre-tournament odds of 100/1 to win this season’s LG Cup, made a draw that has produced several intriguing ties.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the bookmakers favourite to collect the record £260,000 first prize, is thrown in at the deep end against Hong Kong’s Marco Fu, now recognised as the leading cueman from Asia and a heavy scorer when in the groove.

Paul Hunter, the twice Masters champion who many believe has world title credentials, also faces a difficult task. He will face Ali Carter, a renowned giantkiller making his Crucible debut.

Mark Williams, who currently holds a healthy lead at the top of the provisional world rankings, John Higgins and Hendry will all be odds on to reach the last 16.

Williams, looking for a notable hat-trick after already lifting the UK Championship and Benson and Hedges Masters trophies this season, kicks off his Crucible campaign against Preston’s Stuart Pettman, another player making his first appearance at the famous Sheffield venue.

Higgins tackles Ian McCulloch while Hendry, in search of his eighth Embassy world crown, meets the former world number five Gary Wilkinson.

Hendry has won 14 of his 15 previous encounters with Wilkinson – including a 10-9 win with a century break in the decider in their first round classic at the 1989 world championship.

Steve Davis and John Parrott, the former champions and BBC colleagues, must roll back the clock to progress and earn more time off from their television work.

Davis, at 45 easily the oldest of the 32 competitors at the Crucible this year, plays Stephen Lee, the number seed, while Parrott faces Australia’s Quinten Hann, a talented but unpredictable character who has often fallen victim to self-destructive frustration.

In other eye catching encounters, Ken Doherty meets Shaun Murphy, a highly regarded 20 year-old from Irthlingborough who has the capability to cause an upset, and, in a clash of styles, Welshman Matthew Stevens takes on methodical Scot Chris Small.

The legion of Jimmy White fans will also be pleased with the draw that pits the Whirlwind against the Thai-phoon.

White, yet to win a match in a world ranking event this season, will play Thailand’s former world number three James Wattana, who has endured an extended slump and is not the force he was when battling through to the Crucible semi-finals in 1997.