Barry Hawkins and Gerard Greene will both meet former winners of the World Snooker Championship in this year's first round.
Both Kent-based players came through tough qualifying matches in Sheffield this week to reach the last 32. Neither have won on their previous appearances at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and they will start as outsiders to progress following this morning's draw.
Hawkins made it through to his fifth successive appearance at the World Championships with a 10-7 win against Ian McCulloch on Monday. The 29-year-old from Dartford will play world number four John Higgins, who won his third world crown last year and will again be one of the title favourites.
Gerard Greene, from Rainham, came through a marathon qualifying match on Tuesday to beat Rory McLeod 10-9. He will face 2005 champion and world number three Shaun Murphy, who won 9-5 when the pair met in the first round of the UK Championship in January.
For interviews with both players, see this weekend's Kent on Sunday.
POSTED: 11/03/2010 12:10:38
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