Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has been drawn to face lowest seed Robin Hull in the first round of the World Championship.

Five-time champion O’Sullivan begins his crusade for three titles in a row in Sheffield on Saturday against Finland's world number 122, who hasn’t played at the Crucible since 2002.

O’Sullivan, 38, has been in impressive form this year, capturing the Masters in January and then the Welsh Open, with a maximum 147 break, in March.

His opponent, 39-year-old Hull, had to beat 2002 champion Peter Ebdon in one of the four rounds of qualifying in order to earn the opportunity to enter.

Ebdon will miss out from competing in the Championships for the first time in his 22 year career.

Hull retired from the game in 2008 due to a heart complaint but returned to competition three years later.

O’Sullivan will be aiming to become the first player to win the event three times in a row since Stephen Hendry in the 1990’s.