DING JUNHUI will face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the World Championship in a replay of the January Masters final.

That match at Wembley finished 10-3 in O’Sullivan’s favor, with the Chinese teenager upset by the conduct of the crowd. The draw pits two of the pre-tournament favorites against one another in the opening round in Sheffield, the United Kingdom.

Ding had triumphed 9-6 over O’Sullivan in the Northern Ireland Trophy final before the January meeting.

Defending champion Scotsman Graeme Dott will cue off against England’s Ian McCulloch on the opening day, while Shaun Murphy — who triumphed in 2005 — has been drawn against highly-rated 17-year-old Judd Trump.

Veterans Steve Davis and John Parrott will contest in another first-round match.

Stephen Hendry will meet debutant David Gilbert at the table.(SD-Agencies)