Higgins won the title for the second time last year beating Mark Selby

Defending champion John Higgins faces a tough first round match in the World Championship at The Crucible after being drawn against Matthew Stevens.

The Scot beat Mark Selby last year to lift the title but will need to be at his best against the two-time losing finalist from Wales.

Ronnie O'Sullivan plays 17-year-old qualifier Liu Chuang from China.

Stephen Hendry faces Mark Allen while Steve Davis meets Stuart Bingham in the Championship which starts on 19 April.

"There are no easy draws but Matthew is one of the toughest I could have got," said two-time champion Higgins.

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"We've had some cracking matches over the years. I beat him 17-15 in the semi-finals in 2001, then the next year he thrashed me 13-7 in the quarters. I've got five or six weeks of solid practice now to get myself ready."

Liu shocked Dominic Dale 10-9 in the final qualifying round on Monday to become only the fourth 17-year-old to reach The Crucible.

"I'm very excited because Ronnie was my idol when I first started playing snooker at the age of 10," said Liu, who lost 5-1 to O'Sullivan at last season's China Open.

"I like the way he plays but I will be nervous when I go into the arena with him."

Liu's compatriot Ding Junhui also received a tough draw as he will face Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

The third player from mainland China in the draw, Liang Wenbo, is up against former champion Ken Doherty.

The in-form Selby also faces a tricky opener as he meets fellow Englishman Mark King, who ended Jimmy White's hopes of making the tournament with a 10-3 victory on Monday.

Two-time champion Mark Williams tackles Mark Davis and 2002 winner Peter Ebdon meets Jamie Cope.

The first-round draw in full:

Ken Doherty Ire v Liang Wenbo Chn
John Higgins Sco v Matthew Stevens Wal
Ali Carter Eng v Barry Hawkins Eng
Ding Junhui Chn v Marco Fu HK
Mark Selby Eng v Mark King Eng
Peter Ebdon Eng v Jamie Cope Eng
Neil Robertson Aus v Nigel Bond Eng
Steve Davis Eng v Stuart Bingham Eng
Ryan Day Wal v Michael Judge Eng
Ronnie O'Sullivan Eng v Liu Chuang Chn
Mark Williams Wal v Mark Davis Eng
Graeme Dott Sco v Joe Perry Eng
Shaun Murphy Eng v Dave Harold Eng
Stephen Lee Eng v Joe Swail NI
Stephen Hendry Sco v Mark Allen NI
Stephen Maguire Sco v Anthony Hamilton Eng

The World Championship will be comprehensively covered on BBC TV, Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website, Ceefax and BBCi Text.