SWINDON snooker player Liam Highfield has been drawn to face reigning Masters champion Mark Allen after qualifying for the World Championship for the first time.

Should he come through that match, a potential meeting with reigning champion and world number one Mark Selby awaits in the second round.

Highfield came through three rounds of qualifying to book a maiden appearance at the Crucible in Sheffield when the tournament gets under way on Saturday.

The 27-year-old will now meet three-time ranking event winner Allen in the first round, with the Northern Irishman having started 2018 by lifting the iconic Masters crown at Alexandra Palace.

Highfield’s World Championship debut comes at the end of a strong 2017-18 season, which saw him make the quarter-finals of a ranking event for the first time at the Indian Open back in September.

Highfield only sealed his place in the main draw this week after coming through three rounds of qualifying, capped by a 10-4 win over Welshman Daniel Wells in his final match.

He had earlier opened his campaign with a 10-3 success over China’s Chen Zhe before following that up with a 10-6 victory over fellow Englishman Tom Ford.