The line up of the top 16 seeds for snooker’s greatest tournament, the Betfred.com World Championship, is now available.
The seeding-cut off point for the sport’s blue riband event fell after the Welsh Open, which was won on Sunday by Ding Junhui.
The top 16 players now qualify automatically for the £1.1million event at the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The full line up in draw order is:
John Higgins v qualifier (Saturday April 21 10am and 7pm)
Stuart Bingham v qualifier (Saturday April 21 2.30pm and Sunday April 22 7pm)
Graeme Dott v qualifier (Tuesday April 24 2.30pm and Wednesday April 25 10am)
Stephen Maguire v qualifier (Sunday April 22 10am and Monday April 23 10am)
Shaun Murphy v qualifier (Sunday April 22 2.30pm and Monday April 23 2.30pm)
Stephen Lee v qualifier (Monday April 23 7pm and Tuesday April 24 7pm)
Ali Carter v qualifier (Wednesday April 25 7pm and Thursday April 26 1pm)
Judd Trump v qualifier (Tuesday April 24 10am and Wednesday April 25 2.30pm)
Mark Williams v qualifier (Wednesday April 25 2.30pm and Thursday April 26 7pm)
Ronnie O’Sullivan v qualifier (Monday April 23 2.30pm and Tuesday April 24 2.30pm)
Martin Gould v qualifier (Saturday April 21 10am and Sunday April 22 10am)
Neil Robertson v qualifier (Saturday April 21 2.30pm and Sunday April 22 7pm)
Ding Junhui v qualifier (Tuesday April 24 10am and Wednesday April 25 10am)
Mark Allen v qualifier (Saturday April 21 7pm and Sunday April 22 2.30pm)
Matthew Stevens v qualifier (Monday April 23 10am and 7pm)
Mark Selby v qualifier (Tuesday April 24 7pm and Wednesday April 25 7pm)
The event runs from April 21 to May 7. The top 16 will be joined by the 16 players who come through the qualifying rounds, which run from April 5-15 at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The Betfred.com World Championship is the absolute pinnacle of our sport. It’s 17 days of blood, sweat and tears, and the man who lifts that trophy at the end of it will cherish the memory forever.
“The line up of 16 seeds is unbelievably strong. John Higgins won his fourth World title last year and he’s aiming to become the first player to win back-to-back at the Crucible since Stephen Hendry in 1996. There are so many great players now that he faces a massive test.
“The Championship will put Sheffield in the spotlight on a global scale, watched by hundreds of millions of fans around the world. We’ve already had the biggest demand for tickets in the history of the tournament, they are selling at an amazing rate. I’m confident that every seat for every session on every day will be taken. Those lucky enough to be in the arena will be watching the greatest snooker show on Earth.”
BOOK YOUR SEATS NOW by calling 0844 6565 147 or visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
The qualifying rounds also promise some top draw action, with legends like Jimmy White, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty battling for a place at the Crucible. Tickets are on sale – to book call 0114 256 5567 or visit www.arenaticketshop.co.uk
The Betfred.com World Snooker Championship is supported by Sheffield City Council and Welcome To Yorkshire.
David Fletcher of Creative Sheffield said: "April really is snooker month this year in Sheffield with both the qualifiers and final stages of the World Championship being hosted here - we're as proud as ever to be the City of World Snooker and wish the players all the best for the tournament."
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, added: "Once again the eyes of the world are on Yorkshire and we are delighted to support the World Snooker Championship in the magnificent city of Sheffield."