"I am afraid it is very unfortunate both for Ding and Ronnie to meet each other in the first round of the Championships," Stephen Hendry said of his young opponent Ding Junhui and peer rival Ronnie O'Sullivan.

This year's World Championships draw announced Wednesday put the two Masters finalists together in the earliest round.

Ronnie O'Sullivan (L) comforts Chinese snooker player Ding Junhui (middle) after he crushed Ding 10-3 to clinch his third Snooker British Masters January 21, 2007.[Xinhua]

Hendry, who is now in Beijing to prepare for the upcoming China Open kicking off March 26, hadn't tasted any title during the past two years. "I am ready for the China Open," he said.

All the world's top 16 players will be present at the tournament, but for the growing army of local fans Ding will be the center of attention.

How far it is for Ding to become a real world No 1?

For Hendry, it is not the time for Ding. "He is a very very gifted player and he will surely be the No 1 - but not now," he said.

The whole nation is still captivated by the tearful Ding at this year's Masters final game at Wembley against "Rocket" O'Sullivan. The onslaught by "Rockets" saddled Ding a 10-3 defeat.

"If I had the right to choose, I would like to have Ronnie as my final game opponent," Hendry said. "Ronnie is the best snooker player of the world. Ding is also a good rival, but he is still young."

O'Sullivan might be the most wanted prey for the top players. Ding said he would also choose O'Sullivan for the final game if possible as Hendry, as Ding said, would be no match for him.

Ding rose to fame in 2005 when he beat Stephen Hendry in the China Open, which was his first ranking tournament, in front of a television audience of 110 million people.

According to the China Open schedule, Ding and O'Sullivan are put on the different halves. If the two meet, it will be in the final game.

If they establish their China Open final showdown, the Championships early meet in April will be their fourth clash this year.

"I will be doomed to meet him (O'Sullivan) sooner or later if I want to end up with a good result because he is such an excellent player," Ding said. The birthday boy of 20 believed an early meet would turn to be much better than a late one