Ronnie O'Sullivan to face Mark Williams in return to snooker

Williams, world champion in both 2000 and 2003, will be O'Sullivan's first round opponent in the 16-man invitational event at Alexandra Palace, which begins on January 10th and will be televised live on British Eurosport.

Williams did not take the news well...

O'Sullivan has won the tournament five times, and has chosen it as the venue for his return to the game after taking a break following the World Championship earlier in 2015.

Defending Masters champion Shaun Murphy takes on Mark Allen in the opening match, while newly-crowned UK Championship victor Neil Roberton faces Marco Fu.

Liang Wenbo, the man Robertson beat in Sunday's final in York, will make his debut in the tournament against John Higgins, a double-winner of the tournament.

Shaun Murphy v Mark Allen – Sunday January 10 at 1pm

Barry Hawkins v Joe Perry – Monday January 11 at 7pm

Judd Trump v Stephen Maguire – Monday January 11 at 1pm

Neil Robertson v Marco Fu – Wednesday January 13 at 7pm

Mark Selby v Ricky Walden – Tuesday January 12 at 7pm

Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Williams- Tuesday January 12 at 1pm

John Higgins v Liang Wenbo – Wednesday January 13 at 1pm

Stuart Bingham v Ding Junhui – Sunday January 10 at 7pm