LEE Walker’s 30-year friendship with fellow Welsh snooker star Matthew Stevens will be put on hold today when the two clash in the first round of World Championship qualifying.

Incredibly, Newbridge’s Walker, 42, and Carmarthen’s Stevens, 39, who travelled to events together when they were younger, have never played each other in the professional ranks.

The winner of the match at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield will then need to secure two further victories to reach the Crucible.

For Walker, a place at the finals would see him return to the home of snooker for the first time in 13 years, while Stevens is bidding to make up for missing the tournament in 2016.

“Matthew is a really good friend of mine – I’ve known him since he was 10,” said Walker. “It’s never nice playing your friends but you’ve got to be professional about it.

“It’s amazing that this will be the first time I have played Matthew as a pro. I’d have to go back to our amateur days for the last time we played each other.

“Back when we were younger we went to a junior tournament together and then growing up I used to travel all around the country with him and his dad.

“Matthew was, without a doubt, one of the best players I have ever seen and he was unbelievable in his first five years as a professional – he’s got a great record at the Crucible as well.”

He added: “I always look out for his results and want him to win whenever he is playing – obviously I’m hoping he doesn’t win when we play in Sheffield.”

Walker burst onto the scene in 1997 when he reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship.

He returned 12 months later but lost to defending champion Ken Doherty 10-8 in round one.

It took the Welshman until 2004 to make his third Crucible appearance, which ended with a second-round defeat to David Gray.

In 2014, Walker took his place on the sport’s main tour after a six-year hiatus, and he is guaranteed at least one more season competing alongside the best in the world.

“The Crucible is a great place to play and I would love to get back there,” said Walker.

“It’s one of those places that if you haven’t been to you want to get there, and if you have been there you want to get back even more.

“Three years ago, I didn’t think I’d be playing in ano-ther pro event again, let along playing for a place back at the Crucible.”

Meanwhile, Ian Preece also kicks off his qualifying campaign today when he faces Preston’s world number 60 Ian Burns.

Newport’s Preece, world amateur champion in 1999, has never qualified for the World Championship before.

“It would be fantastic if I could qualify,” said Preece, 34. “But the standard is going to be very high.

“I’ve been putting in plenty of hours on the practice table and I feel good.

“I don’t know too much about my opponent as I’ve never played him before, so we’ll just see what happens on the day.”

Ebbw Vale’s Jackson Page plays Martin O’Donnell tomorrow, while Cwm’s Mark Williams and Cwmbran’s Jak Jones face Zhao Xintong and Noppon Saengkham on Saturday.

The qualifiers start today and run until April 12.