Last year's Embassy runner-up Ken Doherty will meet fellow Irishman and two time semi-finalist in the first round proper of the Embassy World Championship after the draw was made this evening.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been handed a tough opening assignment in the first round at next month's Embassy World Championship.
O'Sullivan, one of the favourites to claim the title at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, will face in-form Scot Stephen Maguire, a 23 year-old thought by many to be one of the sport's leading prospects.
Maguire might be making his debut at the Crucible but the Glaswegian underlined his potential earlier this month by capturing the European Open title in Malta with a 9-3 trouncing of Jimmy White in the final.
It is the second year in a row that O'Sullivan has been thrown in at the Crucible deep end - 12 months ago his first-round opponent was Hong Kong's Marco Fu and despite making a 147 break `the Rocket' was beaten.
"That's going to be a very interesting match. It really stands out," said Paul Hunter, another contender for the #250,000 first prize, who fought back from 7-2 down to edge O'Sullivan 10-9 in the Masters final at Wembley in February.
Hunter will also be involved in an intriguing opening-round clash at the World Championship, which begins its 17-day run on Saturday, April 17th.
Yorkshireman Hunter, three times the Masters champion in the last four seasons, has the task of beating 1991 Crucible kingpin John Parrott, who will be making his 21st consecutive visit to the televised stages of the event.
Parrott, an ever present at Sheffield since he turned professional in 1983, just kept that proud record intact when he recovered from 5-0 and 8-4 down to squeeze past Ireland's Michael Judge 10-9 on the pink in the final qualifying round at Pontin's in Prestatyn last night.
"John fought really hard to get through and he's obviously very experienced at the Crucible. It's not a bad draw is it?" laughed number eight seed Hunter.
Mark Williams will launch the defence of his title on day one against fellow Welshman Dominic Dale, who surprisingly beat him 5-3 in the second round of the Welsh Open in Cardiff in January.
However Williams prevailed in all eight of their previous encounters and will be a red-hot favourite to again overcome world number 28 Dale and set up a last 16 meeting with Joe Perry or Rob Milkins.
Ryan Day, the only other Crucible newcomer besides Maguire, could well provide a stern test for John Higgins, whose form has been fragile of late and is without a trophy for two years.
Day compiled the highest break of the championship's pre-televised phase, 145, and during his 10-7 final qualifying round win over Drew Henry yesterday put together back-to-back total clearances of 139 and 132.
Stephen Hendry, bidding to collect his eighth world title, takes on Preston's Stuart Pettman, who caused the biggest upset of the final qualifying round by ousting Fu.
Matthew Stevens, winner of the UK Championship in November, tackles Thailand's James Wattana, veteran Steve Davis faces Anthony Hamilton.
Jimmy White, who was arrested in Preston in the early hours of Wednesday morning on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug, will play Barry Pinches of Norwich.
White, who has been given bail until April 21, faces Pinches, the 10-2 final qualifying round conqueror of Tony Drago, in a two-session, best-of-19-frame match on April 19th and 20th.