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O'Sullivan begins title defence against Campbell

Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to make his first appearance in a major event in nearly a year © PA Photos

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Ronnie O'Sullivan will begin the defence of his World Championship crown against Marcus Campbell in the first round at the Crucible.

The Rocket announced in February he would be making a return to the sport following a self-imposed sabbatical after clinching his fourth triumph last May.

O'Sullivan has played one match this season - in a Players Tour Championship event - but his appearance in Sheffield will be the 37-year-old's first in a major tournament. His opponent Campbell reached the semi-finals of the Wuxi Classic in China earlier in the campaign and is 27th in the world rankings.

World No. 1 Mark Selby, the current Masters and UK champion, bids for a maiden world crown when he faces Matthew Selt. Four-time Crucible champion John Higgins is up against Mark Davis - the player who knocked the Scot out of this season's UK Championship.

Neil Robertson, the 2010 winner, has been drawn against Robert Milkins - the conqueror of six-time runner-up Jimmy White in the qualifiers.

Former world champions Peter Ebdon and Graeme Dott will re-enact the 2006 final, while finalist of 2011 Judd Trump takes on Welshman Dominic Dale.

Draw in full:
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Marcus Campbell
Ali Carter v Ben Woollaston
Stuart Bingham v Sam Baird
John Higgins v Mark Davis
Shaun Murphy v Martin Gould
Graeme Dott v Peter Ebdon
Matthew Stevens v Marco Fu
Judd Trump v Dominic Dale
Neil Robertson v Robert Milkins
Ricky Walden v Michael Holt
Mark Williams v Michael White
Stephen Maguire v Dechewat Poomjaeng
Mark Allen v Mark King
Ding Junhui v Alan McManus
Barry Hawkins v Jack Lisowski
Mark Selby v Matthew Selt

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.