Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Ali Carter - 16-year feud led to 'f***ing nightmare' blast
Ronnie O'Sullivan shocked the snooker world after winning the Masters by revealing his true feelings on final opponent Ali Carter.
O'Sullivan described Carter as "not a nice person" who has "issues" and insisted "he needs to sort his f***ing life out". It was an astonishing, brutal interview from the seven-time world champion that confirmed there is bad blood between the two snooker stars.
But why is there such a fierce rivalry between the pair? Well, it's fair to say O'Sullivan is Carter's nemesis. The Rocket has defeated The Captain in 23 of their 26 meetings, including in the 2008 and 2012 World Championship finals with 18-8 and 18-11 wins.
O'Sullivan's most recent victory against Carter came on Sunday, as the champion recovered from 6-3 down to win 10-7 and secure a record-extending eighth Masters title. Yet O'Sullivan hasn't always got the better of Carter in snooker's biggest events.
In 2018, Carter stunned O'Sullivan by knocking him out of the World Championship in the second round by winning 13-9 at the Crucible. The match is remembered for a shoulder barge between the pair, which was quickly christened as 'barge-gate' by the media.
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"Stop being angry," uttered O'Sullivan after they made contact, as Carter quickly replied: "Thank you very much, very nice of you." Referee Paul Collier was forced to intervene - telling them to "just play on" - before O'Sullivan claimed he was "cool as a cucumber".
Former world champion Dennis Taylor was shocked by the incident. The 1985 winner said on BBC commentary: "I've never seen that at the crucible in 41 years."
O'Sullivan tried to play down the row afterwards by taking aim at reporters. He said in his press conference: "You write the column inches and if you ring the editor and say Ronnie is a story, then it gets printed. If it is not, then you get a smaller column."
O'Sullivan and Carter share a fierce rivalry (AFP via Getty Images)What do you make of the rivalry between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter? Let us know in the comments below!
The rivalry cooled after that, as the pair didn't meet in another one of snooker's Triple Crown events until Sunday's Masters final. Along with the Masters, the World Championship and the UK Championship are considered as the sport's biggest tournaments.
Carter was even complementary of O'Sullivan ahead of their most recent meeting. He said: "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."
Yet O'Sullivan took a different pre-match approach. He told Discovery+: "I think he's got more of a problem with me than I have with him. He's got something against me. Maybe it's because I've got a massive trophy cabinet full of trophies."
And Carter changed his tune in defeat. He said: "He (O'Sullivan) is starting to annoy me... Ronnie played very well, he missed a few at the end and the crowd got excited. When you play Ronnie, you have to play the crowd, you have to accept it."
The pair barged into each other at the World Snooker Championship in 2018 (Eurosport)It was those comments which triggered O'Sullivan's fiery reaction. He said: "He needs to sort his f***ing life out. I’m not going to skirt around it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells around someone like that. He’s a f***ing nightmare.
"Playing snooker against someone like that is a nightmare. He’s not a nice person. It’s not a nice vibe he leaves around the table. I’ve said my piece, I don’t give a s**t. I’ve said it now, done. You know what he’s like, everybody knows what he’s like. He’s got issues.
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"F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls. I don’t give a f**k, I don’t give a f**k about any of these snooker players, any of them. The more he brings it on, the more I f***ing punish him every time.
"He’s just digging a grave for himself. I don’t give a f**k. That’s it, I’ve said my piece... For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what? He can have one of them (showing his middle finger), he can sit on it as far as I’m concerned."
Will this be the last chapter in O'Sullivan's rivalry with Carter? Snooker fans everywhere will hope fate pits them together at the World Championship this year. The draw will take place in April, shortly before the tournament in Sheffield gets underway.
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