Neil Robertson draws Judd Trump in World Championship
World Snooker Championship Date: 16 April-2 May 2011 Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 live. Full TV schedule
Aussie Robertson clinches world snooker title (UK users only)
Defending champion Neil Robertson will face rising star Judd Trump in the first round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The draw for the competition, which will run from 16 April to 2 May, handed former champions Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins tricky opening ties.
O'Sullivan, who has dropped to 10th in the world standings, faces 32nd-ranked Welsh qualifier Dominic Dale.
World number one and three-time champion Higgins takes on Stephen Lee.
Higgins has been in scintillating form since returning from a six-month ban at the end of last year, winning the UK Championship and Welsh Open.
The "Wizard of Wishaw" suffered a shock defeat by six-time champion Steve Davis in last year's second round in Sheffield before allegations of match-fixing emerged on the eve of the final.
Higgins was eventually cleared of fixing games but fined and suspended in May for six months for bringing the game into disrepute by not reporting the illegal approach.
Davis lost out to Lee in the last round of qualifying for this year's tournament and will have to settle for an early stint with the BBC commentary microphone when the coverage begins.
It is the first time "the Nugget" has failed to reach either the UK Championship or the World Championship main draws in a season since turning professional in 1978. The 53-year-old has also dropped out of the world's top 32.
Robertson delights in 'perfect' moment
2010 winner Robertson, currently ranked number three in the world, won his first world championship last year but has since endured an indifferent season as he returns to the arena 12 months after beating Graeme Dott 18-13 in the final.
Trump, 21, told BBC Radio Bristol he felt no pressure having been drawn against the world champion and expects it to be an exciting encounter.
"We've got very, very similar games, we like to go for our shots and we're attacking," he said. "There won't be a lot of safety and it could be a really good game.
"But it will be tough and even if I run Neil close it will be a shock to 60-70% of people."
The player in red hot form is two-time world champion Mark Williams, who takes on qualifier Ryan Day in the first round. The Welshman knows a good run could see him regain his number one ranking nearly three years since plummeting to number 47 in the world.
Welshman Andrew Pagett, who trains with Williams, accompanies fellow qualifiers Day, Dale and Matthew Stevens in the first round draw as the record number of Welsh players at the Crucible is again equalled.
Stevens is another player heading back up the rankings having suffered a drop in form since becoming world runner-up in 2000 and 2005 - making it up to 16th.
Jimmy Robertson will face Mark Selby when he makes his debut in this tournament after beating 1997 champion Ken Doherty in the qualifiers.
Seven-time winner Stephen Hendry will meet Joe Perry in the first round.
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