O’Sullivan begins title bid against Hendry’s nephew

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN’S bid to move to within one of Stephen hendry’s record seven world titles will begin against the Scot’s nephew James Cahill at the Crucible. the 23-year-old, from Blackpool, won through qualifying to become the first amateur to play in the sport’s showpiece, which starts tomorrow in Sheffield. ‘I wouldn’t mind playing Ronnie because it’s an experience playing him there,’ said Cahill — whose mother Maria is the sister of hendry’s ex-wife Mandy — before the draw. ‘It’s the toughest draw but if you’re going to win it you’ve got to beat him at some point.’ O’Sullivan, 43 (below), is favourite to claim his first world title since 2013.

FIRST ROUND DRAW:

M Williams (Wal) v M Gould; D Gilbert v J Perry; B Hawkins v Li Hang (Chn); K Wilson v S Donaldson (Sco); J Higgins (Sco) v M Davis; S Bingham v G Dott (Sco); S Murphy v L Honghao (Chn); N Robertson (Aus) v M Georgiou (Cyp); M Selby v Z Xintong (Chn); L Brecel (Bel) v G Wilson; J Lisowski v A Carter; M Allen (NI) v Z Yuelong (Chn); J Trump v T Un-Nooh (Tha); D Junhui (Chn) v A McGill (Sco); S Maguire (Sco) v T Pengfei (Chn); R O’Sullivan v J Cahill.