Snooker World Championship: Draw, schedule, TV times, odds

Mark Selby will begin the defence of his World Championship title against Fergal O’Brien at the Crucible in Sheffield on Saturday.

The Irishman qualified for the main draw after beating David Gilbert 10-9 in a qualifier which included the longest frame in professional snooker history at two hours, three minutes and 41 seconds.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, meanwhile, will be chasing a sixth title - starting against Gary Wilson in the afternoon session on Saturday.

However, it is the match between Shaun Murphy, the 2005 winner, and Yan Bingtao that World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn described as his "pick of the opening round". The Chinese player is only 17 and becomes the first player born since the millenium to take part in the tournament.

Mark Selby (1) v Fergal O'Brien
Ryan Day (16) v Xiao Guodong
Neil Robertson (9) v Noppon Saengkham
Marco Fu (8) v Luca Brecel
Shaun Murphy (5) v Yan Bingtao
Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Gary Wilson
Liang Wenbo (13) v Stuart Carrington

Ding Junhui (4) v Zhou Yuelong
Stuart Bingham (3) v Peter Ebdon
Kyren Wilson (14) v David Grace
Mark Allen (11) v Jimmy Robertson
John Higgins (6) v Martin Gould
Barry Hawkins (7) v Tom Ford
Ali Carter (10) v Graeme Dott
Anthony McGill (15) v Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump (2) v Rory McLeod

Mark Selby (1) v Fergal O'Brien (Match 1)

Anthony McGill (15) v Stephen Maguire (Match 15)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Gary Wilson (Match 6)

Kyren Wilson (14) v David Grace (Match 10)

Mark Selby (1) v Fergal O'Brien (Match 1) *

Anthony McGill (15) v Stephen Maguire (Match 15) *

Shaun Murphy (5) v Yan Bingtao (Match 5)

Kyren Wilson (14) v David Grace (Match 10) *

Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Gary Wilson (Match 6) *

Stuart Bingham (3) v Peter Ebdon (Match 9)

Marco Fu (8) v Luca Brecel (Match 4)

Mark Allen (11) v Jimmy Robertson (Match 11)

Ding Junhui (4) v Zhou Yuelong (Match 8)

Stuart Bingham (3) v Peter Ebdon (Match 9) *

Shaun Murphy (5) v Yan Bingtao (Match 5) *

John Higgins (6) v Martin Gould (Match 12)

Marco Fu (8) v Luca Brecel (Match 4) *

Mark Allen (11) v Jimmy Robertson (Match 11) *

Liang Wenbo (13) v Stuart Carrington (Match 7)

John Higgins (6) v Martin Gould (Match 12) *

Ding Junhui (4) v Zhou Yuelong (Match 8) *

Judd Trump (2) v Rory McLeod (Match 16)

Liang Wenbo (13) v Stuart Carrington (Match 7) *

Ali Carter (10) v Graeme Dott (Match 14)

Ryan Day (16) v Xiao Guodong (Match 2)

Judd Trump (2) v Rory McLeod (Match 16) *

Neil Robertson (9) v Noppon Saengkham (Match 3)

Ali Carter (10) v Graeme Dott (Match 14) *

Ryan Day (16) v Xiao Guodong (Match 2) *

Barry Hawkins (7) v Tom Ford (Match 13)

Neil Robertson (9) v Noppon Saengkham (Match 3) *

Bingham/Ebdon v K Wilson/Grace (Match 21)

Murphy/Yan Bingtao v O'Sullivan/Wilson (Match 19)

Barry Hawkins (7) v Tom Ford (Match 13) *

The whole tournament will be screened live on Eurosport 1 & 2, while the BBC will also have coverage. For the latest schecule, click here.

Judd Trump 4/1

Mark Selby 4/1

Ronnie O'Sullivan 5/1

Ding Junhui 11/1

Neil Robertson 12/1

John Higgins 12/1

Barry Hawkins 16/1

Shaun Murphy 20/1

Marco Fu 22/1

Kyren Wilson 33/1