Masters Snooker 2014: Ding Junhui to face Shaun Murphy

Ding Junhui will face Shaun Murphy in the first round of the Masters at Alexandra Palace in January.

China's Ding, who has won three consecutive ranking titles this season, comes up against the 2012 finalist.

Defending champion Mark Selby faces Mark Davis, while world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan meets Robert Milkins.

The world's top 15 ranked players will compete in snooker's most prestigious invitational event along with O'Sullivan, who is ranked 29th.

The top 16 usually play in the tournament, but having won his fifth world title at the Crucible in May, O'Sullivan was automatically seeded second behind Selby.

Selby's UK Championship final opponent Neil Robertson faces Mark Allen.

Full draw for the Masters, starting on 12 January 2014:

Seeding in brackets

Mark Selby (1) v Mark Davis (15)

Stuart Bingham (8) v John Higgins (13)

Judd Trump (5) v Marco Fu (10)

Ding Junhui (4) v Shaun Murphy (9)

Neil Robertson (3) v Mark Allen (11)

Stephen Maguire (6) v Joe Perry (16)

Barry Hawkins (7) v Ricky Walden (12)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) v Robert Milkins (14)