Who does Luca Brecel face in first match as world champion at European Masters snooker? Is Ronnie O'Sullivan playing?

Luca Brecel will meet Welsh professional Jackson Page in his first match as world champion at the European Masters in Nuremberg (LIVE on Eurosport) next month. Matches involving the top eight seeds have been held over to the finals venue at the KIA Metropol Arena between August 22-27 as Kyren Wilson defends the title he claimed with a 9-3 win over Barry Hawkins last year. Ad World No.

1 Ronnie O'Sullivan is also in the draw in his first competitive action since losing 13-10 to Brecel in the Crucible quarter-finals in April. He has been handed a potentially tricky opening test against Andy Hicks, the 1995 Word Championship semi-finalist. Champion of ChampionsWho has qualified for elite Champion of Champions as O'Sullivan defends title?12/07/2023 AT 09:36 Brecel, O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen were among a number of leading figures who opted to miss this month's Championship League, the season's first ranking event at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.

Wilson meets Dean Young of Scotland in his tournament opener, while Masters champion Judd Trump faces Egypt's Mohamen Ibrahim, the African champion. The 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy takes on 2006 Crucible winner Graeme Dott in another intriguing match in the opening round of 128. A qualifying round will be staged at the Morningside Arena between July 25-29 with John Higgins taking on Martin Gould with Jimmy White meeting Aaron Hill and German Masters champion Ali Carter confronting Alfie Davies.