Murphy opens with Wattana test

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.

The Rotherham star, who beat Welshman Matthew Stevens to win the famous title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in May, was drawn first out of the hat at tonight’s live draw at the BBC Radio 5 Live studios in London.

And the 23-year-old right-hander is confident of his chances this year and hopeful of “being in the mix” when the competition concludes on May 1.

“Come April who knows what will happen?, but I’m quite pleased with that draw,” revealed Murphy, who admitted he did not want to draw Australian Neil Robertson in his first-round best-of-19 frame match.

He added: “If I didn’t want anyone it would have been Neil Robertson. I don’t have a great track record against him.

“We’ve always had some close games and he’s always managed to sneak through. I’m glad I’ve managed to avoid him.”

Murphy is confident of his chances and earlier this month reached the final of the Welsh Open in Newport.

The adopted Yorkshireman was beaten 9-4, but Murphy, who had not bettered a quarter-final berth in this year’s domestic season apart from a final appearance in the unranked Pot Black Cup, reproduced glimpses of the form which won him many admirers at last year’s 17-day competition, with the BBC-broadcast final having attracted nearly eight million viewers.

Murphy’s coach, Steve Prest, cannot wait for his star pupil to return to the Crucible – and he’s backing another successful campaign.

“Shaun played really well at the Welsh Open, which is great with the World Championship so close,” said Prest.

“It doesn’t matter who you get in the first round, everyone at the Crucible is capable of winning the World Championship.

“We will be really prepared for this year’s tournament and will be treating every player with the utmost respect.”

Last year’s beaten finalist Stevens will open his account against Belfast’s Joe Swail, a semi-finalist in 2000 and 2001.

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

This year’s draw has also thrown up a string of mouth-watering clashes, with seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry set to face Nigel Bond in his first round match.

The pair met each other in the 1995 world final and Hendry triumphed 18-9 after a superb display in the best-of-35 frame match.

Six-times world champion Steve Davis will play Devonian left-hander Andy Hicks, a semi-finalist in 1995.

Crowd favourite and six-times runner-up Jimmy White will play Surrey’s David Gray, although a mix-up with this year’s live draw saw the Whirlwind originally pitted against Nottingham’s Michael Holt.

However, following a brief period of confusion it was confirmed White, who is danger of dropping out of the top 32 unless he finds some much-needed form, will play Gray in his opening match.

Meanwhile Holt, who was knocked out in the last 16 by Davis despite having led 8-2, will play last year’s semi-finalist Peter Ebdon.

Holt said: “I heard the draw and was delighted I was playing Jimmy, but then I found out I was playing Peter.

“No disrespect to Peter, he’s a former world champion and a great player, but I would have loved to have played Jimmy at the Crucible. That’s a match you dream of as a young boy!”

Two-times winner Mark Williams, a champion in 2002 and 2003, takes on Anthony Hamilton, another Nottingham potter, while three-times Masters champion Paul Hunter plays Aussie Robertson.

Hunter has been battling with cancer and Robertson was keen to wish his opponent the best of health and is looking forward to a great match with the Yorkshireman.

“I just hope Paul’s as well as he can be. I wish him the best of luck and can’t wait to play him,” said Robertson.

The remainder of this year’s draw sees former winner Ken Doherty – who won the Malta Cup this season – play Beckenham left-hander Barry Hawkins, while Preston Grand Prix winner and Masters champion John Higgins meets Leicester’s Mark Selby.

2005 UK champion Stephen Maguire plays Londoner Mark King, fellow Scot Graeme Dott meets the popular John Parrott, Welsh Open winner Stephen Lee plays Tiptree’s Ali Carter, Cambridgeshire’s Joe Perry meets Welshman Ryan Day, and Bearsden’s Alan McManus faces Hong Kong’s Marco Fu.