ALI Carter has found out who he will face in the first two qualifiers of the new snooker season.

The Chelmsford player will take on Billy Joe Castle in a bid to reach the Riga Masters - the first event of the 2018/19 snooker calendar.

Sixth ranked Carter does battle with Castle on Monday, July 2 and he returns to action five days later as he attempts to quality for the competition in Latvia.

Egyptian Basem Eltahhan is the opponent for the right to play in the World Open, which is also held in China next month.

The African player is ranked 106 in the world and comes into the match as the underdog. That match is to be played on Saturday, July 7.

Carter, 38, is the World Open defending champion after beating Joe Perry in the final.