16 January 2024 , 15:31
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Ali Carter has fired back at Ronnie O'Sullivan after The Rocketdelivered a furious putdown of his opponent in an extraordinary press conference.
O'Sullivan came from 6-3 down to beat Carter 10-7 in Sunday's Masters final at Alexandra Palace. That ensured the Englishman clinched at record-extending eighth title, with Carter hitting out at his opponent after the match.
Carter criticised The Rocket for 'snotting all over the floor' and also hit out at the crowd, who loudly backed his opponent. O'Sullivan was made aware of the comments in his post-match press conference and delivered a withering put-down of Carter.
The 44-year-old has now fired right back at O'Sullivan as he returned to action on Tuesday at the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Carter dismissed suggestions he was angry with The Rocket, insisting that O'Sullivan needed mental health support.
"Yeah Ronnie's entitled to his opinion of me. I just said what it is and how it was and I talk facts. Angry about what? No. Yeah, it makes no difference to me what he says," Carter told ITV.
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"He says different things on different days, I don't think he even knows what's going to come out of his mouth at certain times. I actually feel a bit sorry for him, I don't think he's that well, mentally. We move forward and we go again this week."
O'Sullivan's blast saw the snooker legend tell Carter to "sort his f***ing life out". The incident has seen the feud between the duo explode, with the World Snooker Tour now investigating.
O'Sullivan hit out at Carter in an extraordinary press conference (PA)“He needs to sort his f***ing life out,” blasted O'Sullivan. "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. 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.
“He’s got beef with me. He’s got issues, he’s got to sort his life out, he’s got to see a counsellor or something. He’s got to deal with that because that’s no good. He’s got to sort it out, because I haven’t spoken to him for 20 years.
“I played with him when he was a kid and shared a lot of stuff with him. For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what? He can have one of them [middle finger], he can sit on it as far as I’m concerned.”