The world and UK champions will go head-to-head in the first round at the Crucible on April 16.

Ronnie O'Sullivan was pulled out of the hat against Stephen Maguire when the draw for the Last 32 of the World Championship was made on Monday night.

It is the toughest test for defending champion O'Sullivan, who suggested that Maguire could "rule the game for the next ten years" after losing twice to the young Scot earlier this season.

The two players met at the same stage last year, the Rocket winning 10-6 on his way to the title.

Glasgow's 24-year-old Maguire won the UK Championship in November and is up to No.3 in the latest world rankings.

The tie will take place over 19 frames on the opening day of snooker's premier tournament, which runs from April 16 to May 2.

Malta's Tony Drago faces a tough match against world No.11 Stephen Lee in the opening round. The Malta pro, currently No.39 in the world, must reproduce the kind of form that helped him beat Nigel Bond 10-4 in the qualifying round if he is to progress to the Last 16 of the tournament.

The draw produced several other intriguing fixtures. Seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry faces hot-shot Neil Robertson, making his debut at Sheffield.

Six-times runner-up Jimmy White faces gritty Irishman Fergal O'Brien while veteran Steve Davis plays Gerard Greene.

Last 32: O'Sullivan (England) vs Maguire (Scotland); Fu (Hong Kong) vs Carter (England); Lee (England) vs Drago (Malta); Ebdon (England) vs Hann (Australia); Higgins (Scotland) vs Selby (England); Small (Scotland) vs Murphy (England); S. Davis (England) vs Greene (N. Ireland); Hunter (England) vs Holt (England); Hendry (Scotland) vs Robertson (Australia); Gray (England) vs Hamilton (England); White (England) vs O'Brien (Ireland); Stevens (Wales) vs Hicks (England); Doherty (Ireland) vs Pinches (England); McManus (Scotland) vs Henry (Scotland); Dott (Scotland) vs McCulloch (England); Williams (Wales) vs Milkins (England).