Ding to face Ronnie in opener
January 14, 2012 18:58:59 UK
Reigning champion Ding Junhui begins the defence of his Masters title on Sunday with a mouthwatering clash against enigmatic four-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Ronnie O'Sullivan plays Ding Junhui in the Masters opener.Ding, who secured victory last year with a 10-4 victory over Marco Fu, will face The Rocket in what will be a repeat of the 2007 final.
Then O'Sullivan triumphed 10-3, a defeat which left the Chinese star in tears, but he is confident that following his win last year those memories have now been banished forever.
"Last year was great for me at the Masters, I had my problems before but I put those behind me and I am looking forward to it this year," said Ding.
Ding is rated as 2.50 to beat O'Sullivan, with the Londoner 1.53 to claim the win.
Two-time Masters champion and current world number one Mark Selby faces Stephen Lee in his opening match and he is confident that this tournament will again inspire him to play his best snooker.
"Each player seems to excel at a different type of tournament and with me, it appears to have been at the Masters," said the man from Leicester. "The big crowds seem to bring out the best of me and I play my best snooker."
The big crowds seem to bring out the best of me.
Mark Selby
On his first-round match with Lee, Selby is in no doubt of the challenge he faces from the current world number 15.
"Stephen is obviously a class act and he has shown in the past season what kind of player he is. It's going to be a tough game." he said.
In other notable first round matches, World Champion Neil Robertson will play Mark Allen, Mark Williams faces Stephen Maguire and UK champion Judd Trump takes on Stuart Bingham. Scotsman John Higgins will meet Matthew Stevens.
The full first round draw is as follows:
Sunday 15 Jan
Ding Junhui (Chn) v Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) v Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Monday 16 Jan
Judd Trump (Eng) v Stuart Bingham (Eng)
Shaun Murphy (Eng) v Martin Gould (Eng)
Tuesday 17 Jan
John Higgins (Sco) v Matthew Stevens (Wal)
Neil Robertson (Aus) v Mark Allen (NI)
Wednesday 18 Jan
Mark Selby (Eng) v Stephen Lee (Eng)
Ali Carter (Eng) v Graeme Dott (Sco)
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