Stephen Hendry to face Jimmy White in first qualifying round of World Championship

The pair met in four in Crucible finals played during in the 1990s, Hendry winning on each occasion, and will clash once more having been paired in Wednesday's draw.

In order to gain entry to the first round of the World Championship, which gets under way on April 17, Hendry and White – who have a combined age of 110 – face four matches in a qualification event that starts on April 5.

Hendry, 52, found out the news while in his role as a pundit for ITV at the ongoing Tour Championship – and was incredulous when he found out that White was lying in wait for him.

“No, stop it,” he said. “I can’t believe that. You’re winding me up – that’s unbelievable.

“All those finals we played and now we’re starting off at rock bottom playing each other in the very first round. It’s incredible.

“We’ve been practising together as well, so that’s ended!”

The pair’s last meeting in the professional ranks went in Hendry’s favour as he won 9-8 in the last-32 of the 2010 UK Championship, but White, 58, defeated his old nemesis 4-2 en route to going all the way in the World Senior Championship last August.

Click here to read our special Stephen Hendry v Jimmy White feature