O'Sullivan fires dig at Carter and claims Masters rival "has a problem with me"

14 January 2024 , 18:46

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Snooker stars Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter (Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Ronnie O'Sullivan could not resist taking a dig at Ali Carter ahead of their showdown in the Masters final, joking that his rival has "something against me" because of the Rocket's "massive trophy cabinet".

The pair have had some heated battles over the years, most notably clashing during the 2018 World Championship, and Carter has previously claimed he is "not intimidated by Ronnie like a lot of other players are". And speaking ahead of his latest meeting with Carter, O'Sullivan took aim at his rival.

"I think he's got more of a problem with me than I have with him," O'Sullivan told Discovery+. "He's got something against me. Maybe it's because I've got a massive trophy cabinet full of trophies."

Should O'Sullivan beat Carter, he will win a record-extending eighth Masters crown, and after booking his place in the final with a 6-2 win over Shaun Murphy, he goaded snooker's next generation.

"At the start there were a few mistakes but I cleaned it up a little bit - and I need to do that these days, because I can't pot as well as these guys but I can make breaks among the balls and make up for it that way," O'Sullivan said.

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"I don't feel that old. I feel young in my mind. I feel a lot younger round the table when I play these younger players. They look old and their brains are quite slow.

"I still feel my brain is pretty quick round the snooker table, which is enough. They need to get their acts together because I am going blind, have got a dodgy arm and bad knees and they still can't beat me."

If O'Sullivan beats Carter he will win a record eighth Masters title (PA)

Carter, meanwhile, said he was "relishing the challenge" of facing O'Sullivan and branded him the "greatest of all time". He said: "I really got it going in the middle there and felt really good and Mark showed what a great player he is with a good ton.

"I held it together well and I am delighted to have a crack at 'The Rocket' tomorrow. I am looking forward to it and I am relishing the challenge.

"He has been a big part in everyone's career. He is the greatest of all time and I have the ultimate respect for him as a snooker player but what a great challenge to be playing him here."

Matthew Cooper