Teenager Zhang 'honoured' to face Crucible master Hendry

Former champions Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry – who boast 10 world titles between them at The Crucible -– were paired against rising stars Liang Wenbo and Zhang Anda respectively in yesterday's first-round draw.

O'Sullivan's match with Sheffield-based Liang is a repeat of the quarter-final two years ago which the Englishman won on his way to lifting the Crucible title for a third time.

Seven-times Crucible champion Hendry's opponent Zhang Anda is an 18-year-old from China who has won four qualifying matches just to reach the televised stages.

The match-up will be a leap into the unknown for Hendry.

"Last year I played Mark Williams in the first round so I knew what to expect, but this time I don't know what to expect because I've never played Zhang," said Hendry.

Zhang, who is 5ft 3ins and nicknamed Mighty Mouse, said: "Stephen Hendry is a snooker legend and it will be a dream and an honour to play him at the Crucible. I hope I will be able to give him a good game and I am looking forward to it very much."

The third China player Ding Junhui – who is also based in Sheffield during the season – plays England's Stuart Pettman.

"From the point of view of excitement it's about the Chinese players," said Steve Davis, at 52 the elder statesman of the competition. "We don't know what Liang is capable of but I don't suppose he's too happy, but I don't imagine Ronnie will be absolutely delighted to play a player who is on the up.

"We also have an unknown quantity in an 18-year-old (Zhang) who has drawn the most established player at The Crucible.

"That's a fascinating match and Hendry will want to get through to prove he's still got a future.

"But he's got a player he's probably never seen before and he certainly wouldn't know him if he walked past him in the street.

"We don't know what he's capable of but Stephen Hendry has got to go out and justify his existence as a snooker player."

Davis himself faces opposition a little closer to home, fellow Romford professional Mark King.

Shaun Murphy, former world champion, begins his challenge against Northern Ireland's Gerard Greene, while John Higgins cues off the defence of his trophy against Barry Hawkins.

1st round draw: John Higgins v Barry Hawkins, Mark King v Steve Davis, Neil Robertson v Fergal O'Brien, Marco Fu v Martin Gould, Ali Carter v Jamie Cope, Joe Perry v Michael Holt, Ding Junhui v Stuart Pettman, Shaun Murphy v Gerard Greene, Stephen Maguire v Stephen Lee, Peter Ebdon v Graeme Dott, Mark Allen v Tom Ford, Ryan Day v Mark Davis, Mark Selby v Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry v Zhang Anda, Mark Williams v Marcus Campbell, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Liang Wenbo.