Ali Carter makes Ronnie O’Sullivan prediction after World Snooker Championship clash
Ronnie O’Sullivan got the better of Ali Carter in the opening round at the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images) Ali Carter feels there is ‘no question’ that Ronnie O’Sullivan will win the World Snooker Championship if he continues the form he showed in the second session of their first round match. The first session of the match was a bit of a struggle for both men and finished 5-4 in O’Sullivan’s favour, but the Rocket was vastly improved in Wednesday afternoon’s second session. The seven-time world champion knocked in breaks of 59, 117, 74, 123 and 131 to romp to a 10-7 victory in short order. Having not played competitively since January and playing with a new cue for the first time, O’Sullivan was understandably ring rusty on his return, but appeared to have chipped that all away by Wednesday. Carter was certainly impressed, and asked whether the Rocket can go on to win the tournament if he continues that form, the Captain said: ‘No question! No one can live with that.’ However, he did have a warning, saying: ‘But as we know the game is different every day. Someone doesn’t give you the trophy because you play well in a session or a match, you’ve got to be here for the long haul. ‘But it looks like his head’s on, it looks like he’s in a good place so I think he’s the man to beat. Carter watched a superb performance from O’Sullivan (Picture: Getty Images) ‘He just pots so many difficult balls, all the time, relentlessly, it’s hard to deal with when every ball you’re down on feels like a pint of blood.’ O’Sullivan was playing down expectations before he arrived at the Crucible, saying that it would be a victory to win just one match and would be happy enough just to be competitive with Carter. Asked about those comments after suffering a heavy defeat, the Captain said: ‘That’s the right thing to say isn’t it? He’s taking the pressure off himself. ‘He’s not going to say: “I’m going to go out there and…” You’re setting yourself up to fail. You give yourself a chance to play like that, but if you say you’re going to play like that, then you’re leaving it all to do.’ O’Sullivan takes on Pang Junxu in his next outing (Picture: Getty Images) There has long been a tetchy relationship between the two men, with memorable clashes here at the Crucible and in their Masters final last year. The match was played in good spirits, though, with the players shaking hands warmly and the Rocket applauding shots from his rival. ‘Yeah of course,’ Carter said of the friendly atmosphere. ‘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.’ Whatever has happened between them in the past, Carter has enormous respect for O’Sullivan’s game, saying he could have a lot more than three months off and still do well at the Crucible. ‘He could have 10 years off and still come here,’ said Carter. ‘He’s just a freak natural, we all know that and that’s why we all love watching him.’ O’Sullivan hit his stride impressively in his second session (Picture: Getty Images) Next up for O’Sullivan is Pang Junxu in the second round after the Chinese star beat his compatriot Zhang Anda in his opener. The pair met in the first round in 2023, with the Rocket winning 10-7.
Ali Carter feels there is ‘no question’ that Ronnie O’Sullivan will win the World Snooker Championship if he continues the form he showed in the second session of their first round match.
The first session of the match was a bit of a struggle for both men and finished 5-4 in O’Sullivan’s favour, but the Rocket was vastly improved in Wednesday afternoon’s second session.
Having not played competitively since January and playing with a new cue for the first time, O’Sullivan was understandably ring rusty on his return, but appeared to have chipped that all away by Wednesday.
Carter was certainly impressed, and asked whether the Rocket can go on to win the tournament if he continues that form, the Captain said: ‘No question! No one can live with that.’
However, he did have a warning, saying: ‘But as we know the game is different every day. Someone doesn’t give you the trophy because you play well in a session or a match, you’ve got to be here for the long haul.
‘But it looks like his head’s on, it looks like he’s in a good place so I think he’s the man to beat.
‘He just pots so many difficult balls, all the time, relentlessly, it’s hard to deal with when every ball you’re down on feels like a pint of blood.’
O’Sullivan was playing down expectations before he arrived at the Crucible, saying that it would be a victory to win just one match and would be happy enough just to be competitive with Carter.
Asked about those comments after suffering a heavy defeat, the Captain said: ‘That’s the right thing to say isn’t it? He’s taking the pressure off himself.
‘He’s not going to say: “I’m going to go out there and…” You’re setting yourself up to fail. You give yourself a chance to play like that, but if you say you’re going to play like that, then you’re leaving it all to do.’
There has long been a tetchy relationship between the two men, with memorable clashes here at the Crucible and in their Masters final last year.
The match was played in good spirits, though, with the players shaking hands warmly and the Rocket applauding shots from his rival.
‘Yeah of course,’ Carter said of the friendly atmosphere. ‘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.’
Whatever has happened between them in the past, Carter has enormous respect for O’Sullivan’s game, saying he could have a lot more than three months off and still do well at the Crucible.
‘He could have 10 years off and still come here,’ said Carter. ‘He’s just a freak natural, we all know that and that’s why we all love watching him.’
Next up for O’Sullivan is Pang Junxu in the second round after the Chinese star beat his compatriot Zhang Anda in his opener.
The pair met in the first round in 2023, with the Rocket winning 10-7.
