Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong discover first opponents of new snooker season as British and Wuhan Open draws throw up early tests

Ronnie O'Sullivan is due to face world No. 97 Allan Taylor in the first round of the Wuhan Open in August, a match that could represent his first appearance at a ranking event since his run to the semi-finals of last month's World Championship in Sheffield. The snooker GOAT has also been paired with world No. 60 Sanderson Lam in the first round of the British Open in Cheltenham in September.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been handed a match against Allan Taylor in what could be his first appearance at a ranking event of the new season at the Wuhan Open in August.

Qualifying for the event takes place between June 22-24 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, but seven-time world champion O'Sullivan's tournament opener has been held over until the main venue in China (24-30 August), according to tournament organisers World Snooker Tour.

World No. 1 Judd Trump will also start his tournament at the finals venue against Farakh Ajaib as defending champion Xiao Guodong takes on former women's world champion Mink Nutcharut.

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World champion Zhao Xintong is sure to be a massive draw on home soil when he meets Iulian Boiko of Ukraine on the opening day of action in Wuhan.

Former world champions Mark Williams, John Higgins and Mark Selby will all be involved in qualifying for the competition later this month.

Williams has landed Chatchapong Nasa, Higgins is up against Huang Jiahao and Selby takes on Alexander Ursenbacher in his home city.

Xiao secures his first ranking title at the Wuhan Open

Video credit: TNT Sports

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan is scheduled to face Sanderson Lam in the first round of the British Open which takes place between September 22-28 in Cheltenham.

Qualifying for the British Open follows the Wuhan Open qualifiers between June 25-28 in Leicester, but all matches involving the world's top 16 have been held over.

Defending champion Mark Selby will face David Grace in the first match of his title defence, Judd Trump meets Aaron Hill, John Higgins is up against Mark Davis and Kyren Wilson will confront Chris Wakelin.

Former world champion Luca Brecel, the world No. 39, will also be involved in the qualifiers after dropping out of the top 16 and will take on Ursenbacher for a place in the last 64.

Stephen Maguire, meanwhile, will take on fellow ranking event winner Marco Fu for a place in Cheltenham.

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O'Sullivan, plagued by issues with a new cue, returned to competition after a three-month absence in reaching the World Championship semi-finals last month, where he lost 17-7 to eventual winner Zhao.

He is likely to return at the Shanghai Masters next month (July 28-3 August) as he chases a record-extending sixth victory at the coveted invitational competition.

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