World Snooker Championship 2024 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in World Snooker Championship 21 April 2024

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Judd Trump topples Hossein Vafaei to reach World Championship last 16

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Gary Wilson eyeing one-table return at the World Snooker Championship

Selby trails debutant Joe O’Connor 7-2 (PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Mark Selby has a mountain to climb, while Mark Williams begins a tricky first round clash at the World Snooker Championship on Monday.

There are four former World champions in action on day three at the Crucible, where another three players will have booked their place in the last 16 by the close of play.

Four-time Crucible king Selby must produce one of his trademark fightbacks to stand any chance of advancing in Sheffield.

The Jester trails 7-2 against fellow Leicester cueist Joe O’Connor, who produced an inspired opening session on his Crucible debut.

The world number 30 resumes the contest needing just three frames to overcome Selby, who has not fallen at the first hurdle here since 2018.

Shaun Murphy is in a stronger position as he aims to avoid a third successive first-round exit. The 2005 champion is 6-3 to the good against Lyu Haotian, with the Magician hitting a top break of 111 during their opening session on Sunday.

Meanwhile, three-time champion Williams commences his 26th Crucible campaign against 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui.

The Welshman has reached at least the quarter-finals in five of his last seven appearances in Sheffield, where he was last beaten in the opening round nine years ago.

However, the recently crowned Tour Championship winner will be taking no chances against his Chinese opponent, who delighted the snooker world with his fairy-tale run to the last four on debut 12 months ago.

Stuart Bingham is the other former champion to make his bow on Monday, albeit as a qualifier for the second time in four years.

The 2015 winner faces 2019 semi-finalist Gary Wilson, who is eyeing another strong run to round off a season in which he has already triumphed at the Scottish Open and Welsh Open.

Elsewhere, Robert Milkins embarks upon his 10th Crucible campaign, during which he will look to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Standing in his way is the returning Pang Junxu, who makes his second successive appearance in Sheffield after debuting last year.

Play gets under way at 10am BST on Monday with all first-round matches contested over the best of 19 frames – split across two sessions – at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

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