Ronnie O’Sullivan to lock horns with Ali Carter at World Championship

Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has been drawn to face long-term rival Ali Carter in the first round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

The 49-year-old, who is seeded fifth, defeated Carter in the 2008 and 2012 finals at the Crucible.

O’Sullivan has not played competitively since snapping his cue after withdrawing from the Championship League in January.

He pulled out of five of the last six World Snooker Tour events on medical grounds and has yet to confirm if he will play in this year’s tournament.

O’Sullivan and Carter, who overcame a neck injury to qualify, have endured a rocky relationship and notably clashed following last year’s Masters final.

O’Sullivan said his opponent was “not a nice person” during an expletive-laden rant following his 10-7 victory in that match after Carter accused him of “snotting all over the floor”.

Kyren Wilson will begin his title defence against debutant Lei Peifan when action starts on Saturday morning, while world number one Judd Trump – the 2019 winner – has been paired with Zhou Yuelong.

Four-time champion Mark Selby, who was in Salford to help conduct the draw on Thursday morning, is set to face fellow Leicester native Ben Woollaston.

HALO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW!