Ali Carter has put aside past animosities with Ronnie O’Sullivan by hailing him as “the greatest player of all time” signalling a potential end to their notorious rivalry. The pair, known for their heated exchanges, faced off in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
Anticipation was sky-high among fans eager to witness another chapter of their combustible history, especially after their memorable confrontation at the 2024 Snooker Masters final where O’Sullivan bagged his eighth title following a collision with Carter, sparking a verbal showdown. O’Sullivan labelled Carter a “nightmare” and was in turn accused by Carter of “snotting all over the floor”.
At the 2025 World Championship, O’Sullivan secured a resounding 10-4 win against Carter. Notwithstanding the competition, the vibes between them were surprisingly amicable; they cordially shook hands pre-and post-match and even exchanged pleasantries thereafter.
Despite a disappointing defeat, Carter reflected positively on their relationship and commended O’Sullivan, remarking: “We all make mistakes in the past. We’ve all said things that maybe we shouldn’t have done, you reflect on that and at the end of the day I’m playing the greatest player of all time.”
Talking about O’Sullivan’s form despite a tough year, Carter stated: ” He could have 10 years off and still come here. He’s just a freak natural, we all know that and that’s why we all love watching him.”
Recognising the past tensions but showing appreciation for his peer, Carter warmly commented on O’Sullivan’s enduring class, understanding well the unique appeal ‘The Rocket’ holds for snooker enthusiasts.
In turn, O’Sullivan showed respect towards Carter in his interview with TNT Sports, admitting some of their earlier animosity was probably misplaced: “Me and Ali are fine. I was probably going through a bad time myself, he was probably going through a bit of a bad time, and you just sort of say things that you think, ‘Why did I say that?’ It’s just heat of the moment stuff.”
O’Sullivan also fondly recalled their early practice sessions: “I practised with Ali when he was a kid, 13 or 14, and I thought ‘This kid’s going to be special’. I spent a lot of time playing, picking balls out for him. He’s a good lad.”
Looking ahead, O’Sullivan faces promising upstart Junxu Pang in the second round, who triumphed over Zhang Anda, whilst O’Sullivan steps back into the fray having not been seen in action since his defeat to Robert Milkins at the Championship League in January.
O’Sullivan, who had previously withdrawn from the German Masters, the Welsh Open, and a January exhibition match against John Higgins in Finland, surprisingly admitted to low expectations at the Crucible. The Rocket revealed: “I had no expectations so there were no nerves, I didn’t expect to perform well based on the past three or four years. I just wanted to make a game of it.”
He also reflected on his opponent’s performance, saying, “Ali had his chances yesterday, on another day he would been 6-3 up [after the first session], and again today he had a couple of chances. I cued a lot better than I did yesterday.”
Despite his modest approach, this mindset could render ‘The Rocket’ even more formidable on the baize.
