World Snooker Championship 2024 Draw | Luca Brecel to face David Gilbert

The draw for the 2024 World Snooker Championship has been confirmed, with reigning champion Luca Brecel to face David Gilbert in Round One.

The sport’s annual show-piece features the world’s top 16 ranked players alongside a further 16 qualifiers as they battle it out for £2.4 million in prize money from April 20 to May 6.

A host of decorated stars and exciting emerging talents lock horns at the sport’s spiritual home – The Crucible Theatre – for the 48th consecutive staging in Sheffield.

Brecel, who secured a fairy-tale first world title last year, begins the defence of his crown with a clash against 2019 semi-finalist Gilbert on Day One of the tournament.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is bidding to make history by becoming an eight-time World Champion to eclipse the joint record he currently holds with Stephen Hendry.

The Rocket is also vying to clinch a first seasonal Triple Crown, having won the UK Championship and Masters titles this season, and starts out against 22-year-old Welshman Jackson Page, a semi-finalist in the recent World Open.

One of the stand-out ties of the First Round sees 2019 World Champion Judd Trump – a five-time ranking event winner this season – take on Iran’s Hossein Vafaei – twice a ranking event semi-finalist this season.

Meanwhile, four-time World Champion Mark Selby has been drawn to face fellow Leicester cueist Joe O’Connor, while 2020 world finalist Kyren Wilson meets 52-year-old Dominic Dale – returning to The Crucible for the first time in a decade.

Four-time World Champion John Higgins begins his 30th consecutive Crucible campaign with a tie against Jamie Jones – who knocked out 2010 champion Neil Robertson in a deciding frame in the final qualifying round on Wednesday.

Three-time World Champion Mark Williams, who claimed the Tour Championship title earlier this month, opens up against Si Jiahui – who enjoyed a sensational run to the semi-finals on debut here 12 months ago.

Another stand-out tie sees 14-time ranking event winner Ding Junhui, runner-up in the 2016 World Championship, take on six-time ranking finalist Jack Lisowski.

Players Championship winner Mark Allen, the number four seed, starts out against Robbie Williams – making his first appearance in the main draw since 2016.

Two-time world finalist Ali Carter – who has also finished runner-up in The Masters this season – meets former UK Champion and Crucible semi-finalist Stephen Maguire.

Gary Wilson, the reigning Welsh Open and Scottish Open champion, will take on 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham, as 2013 world finalist Barry Hawkins hosts four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day.

Shaun Murphy, the 2005 World Champion, will face China’s Lyu Haotian, while reigning International Champion Zhang Anda plays last year’s quarter-finalist – Jak Jones.

Former Welsh Open champion Robert Milkins faces former WST Classic finalist Pang Junxu, while 14th seed Tom Ford – runner-up in the 2023 International Championship – takes on former Crucible semi-finalist Ricky Walden.

The full schedule of play will be confirmed in due course.

World Snooker Championship 2024 Draw

Luca Brecel (1) v David Gilbert
Robert Milkins (16) v Pang Junxu
Ali Carter (9) v Stephen Maguire
Shaun Murphy (8) v Lyu Haotian
Mark Selby (5) v Joe O’Connor
Kyren Wilson (12) v Dominic Dale
John Higgins (13) v Jamie Jones
Mark Allen (4) v Robbie Williams
Judd Trump (3) v Hossein Vafaei
Tom Ford (14) v Ricky Walden
Zhang Anda (11) v Jak Jones
Mark Williams (6) v Si Jiahui
Ding Junhui (7) v Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson (10) v Stuart Bingham
Barry Hawkins (15) v Ryan Day
Ronnie O’Sullivan (2) v Jackson Page