Ronnie O'Sullivan's bitter rival accuses Rocket of dirty tactics as lid lifted on feud
Ronnie O'Sullivan has had plenty of rivalries during his career, but one player has lifted the lid on their feud.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s nemesis Ali Carter has accused the 48-year-old of dirty tactics as he lifted the lid on their long-running feud. The snooker stars took their quarrel to the next level in the aftermath of January’s Masters final.
O’Sullivan came out on top of that encounter as he clinched an eighth Masters title, with Carter subsequently accusing him of clearing his nose on the Alexandra Palace carpet during the contest.
The Rocket then hit back with a foul-mouthed tirade against Carter and used his middle finger to scold the 44-year-old during a press conference.
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Six years ago, the pair were also involved in an infamous shoulder barge incident at the 2018 World Snooker Championship as they bumped into each other while walking in opposite directions.
And at the weekend, Carter was quizzed about his beef with O’Sullivan during an appearance on Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips.
“We used to practise together loads when I was 16, 17 just turning pro,” he told the Scot. “He used to come over to Witham and he played there every day for quite a few months as far as I can remember and we were practising together.
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“Around the time when I went on my run and got to the semis of the Grand Prix and then won the Benson and Hedges Championship [in 1999], so obviously he helped me massively.
“And I think the more competitive I got, the more the relationship sort of - not went wrong because that’s not the right word - it’s difficult to describe. But when all of a sudden we’re competitors, I’d find times where he wouldn’t say hello.”
And after Hendry described O’Sullivan as “wanting to bully you”, Carter explained: “If he was an amateur you’d get your cue and go like that (hold it in front of him) and push him out the way wouldn’t you.
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“The general public don’t see that (O’Sullivan’s behaviour). He’s very much using his authority to say this is my table, you’re just taking part here. He’s constantly [there], you feel him there [breathing down your neck]. And that’s all part of his, whatever you want to call it. And that’s fair enough if that’s what he feels he needs to do to win.
“I played [Mark] Williams and John Higgins and them guys and I think when you play them guys it's a fair game. I get the feeling it's whoever plays best on the day wins, there's none of that nonsense involved."
Later asked his favourite opponent, Carter named Higgins and added: “I love playing John. He's a gentleman of the game. He's a lovely fella John, you can just enjoy the match and not worry about any of the other nonsense that comes with playing certain other players.”