Robertson and Dott set for QF clash

Neil Robertson is in line for a possible World Championship quarter-final against the man he defeated to land last year’s title.

Robertson and Graeme Dott were placed in the same quarter of the draw which was revealed this week, and each man will face a qualifier first. Awaiting Robertson in the second round, providing he comes through his opening test, could be Hong Kong’s Marco Fu, with Dott and Ali Carter seeded to meet for the right to take on Australia’s first Crucible champion.

Qualifying takes place at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport venue next month, after which the 16 seeds will be paired with their first-round opponents.

The draw offers several tantalising prospects for the second round, with seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and Mark Selby in line to meet in the last 16, as they did in 2010 when Selby came out on top.

World number one John Higgins, who lost to Steve Davis in the second round last year before being at the centre of controversy which led to his suspension, is seeded to meet Ricky Walden in the second round.

Higgins cannot meet Stephen Maguire, the man he overcame last Sunday to land the Welsh Open title, until the semi-final stage.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s recent form has raised doubts over whether he should be considered a serious contender for the title he has won three times.

However, should O’Sullivan survive the first round he could meet fellow former world champion Shaun Murphy in the last 16, and then potentially Higgins in the quarter-finals.

The World Championship runs from April 16 to May 2, with a full day’s play scheduled for April 29, the date of the royal wedding.