As always, the world's top 16 have been given an automatic place in the first round of the flagship tournament at the English city's Crucible Theatre.

England's Mark Selby, the three-time reigning world champion, will start as number one seed.

His compatriot Ronnie O'Sullivan, who will be looking for his sixth world title, has been seeded second.

Six other English players are also within the top 16, Judd Trump, Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson, Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter.

China's Ding Junhui is seeded third while Scotland will be represented by John Higgins and Anthony McGill.

Welshman Mark Williams, Australia's Neil Robertson, Hong Kong's Marco Fu, Belgium's Luca Brecel and Northern Ireland's Mark Allen complete the top 16.

Seven former world champions are among the pre-qualifiers in all. 

The remaining 16 places in the draw will be decided at a qualification tournament taking place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from April 11 to April 18.

Players need to come through three rounds to seal their place at the Crucible with the remaining 113 tour players, including invitational professional tour players Ken Doherty and Jimmy White, handed a spot to play.

Pro players Boonyarit Keattikun and Kritsanut Lertsattayatthorn of Thailand have not entered, however.

Fifteen amateur players will complete the qualification field.

This should have included World Snooker Federation (WSF) Championship winner Luo Honghao of China but he has been forced to withdraw due to visa issues.

His opponent in the final, Poland's Adam Stefanów, will be in the field alongside beaten semi-finalists Kristjan Helgason of Iceland and another Pole in Kacper Filipa.

World senior champion Igor Figueiredo of Brazil and world women's champion Ng On Yee of Hong Kong are among the other amateur qualifiers.

Action at the Crucible will take place between April 21 and May 7.