Article:Higgins gets the toughest possible draw

The draw for the 2008 World Snooker Championship was conducted at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield today by the famous cricketing umpire Dickie Bird. It was broadcast online around the world. The following draw was made:

The best match is undoubtedly the Higgins-Stevens game, the reigning two-time champion against twice a runner-up. Hendry-Allen should be entertaining, too. There will be the first ever all-Chinese match in the history of the World Championship, as Ding takes on Fu. The oldest man in the draw is Steve Davis, he's now 50, but will be favourite to win against Stuart Bingham. He will need to win that match, and probably his second round game to remain in the top 16. Davis is the oldest player in the event since Terry Griffiths in the 1997 World Snooker Championship. There are a record number of qualifiers from China, 3 or 4 if you include Hong Kong (Fu). Liu Chuang starts against Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Liang Wenbo plays Ken Doherty, the 1997 champion.

A more detailed preview will be shortly written.