Ronnie O’Sullivan has called Ali Carter “not a nice person” and “a nightmare” to play against after being criticised by the beaten Masters finalist.
On Sunday, O’Sullivan overcame a 6-3 deficit to defeat Carter 10-7 and capture his seventh Masters championship, setting a new record.
Following the match, Carter accused the top player of “snotting”—that is, clearing his nose—”all” over the floor.
The World Snooker Tour representative stated that the entire incident involving the two players was “under review.”
The WST omitted any mention of potential consequences or a timeline.
O’Sullivan defeated Pang Junxu, a Chinese national, 4-2 on Tuesday at the Leicester World Grand Prix.
World No. 1 O’Sullivan declared to ITV after the victory that he will “definitely be missing a few tournaments” going forward.
“To be honest, I shouldn’t have actually come here, but it’s okay, so I figured I would just show here. “Looking back, I should not have gone,” he continued.
“Knowing World Snooker, I’m sure they would say no to a wildcard if I were to drop out of the circuit. Still, I would like to think I would obtain one.
“Honestly, all I’m attempting to do is maintain my tour card.
“I am not bothered about tournaments; it is not my favourite bit, to be fair.”
O’Sullivan reacted to Carter’s remarks following the Masters match by saying, “He [Carter] has issues.” He needs to go make some changes in his life.
Carter, 44, criticised “some morons” in the crowd at Alexandra Palace in London and also called out 48-year-old O’Sullivan’s behaviour during the match.
“It’s just disgusting; no one wants to say anything, though, do they?” said Carter.
“Snotting all over the floor and all that—it’s outrageous behaviour from a top professional, and if it gets swept under the carpet, then it’s not good.”
As of right now, O’Sullivan has defeated Carter in 23 of his 26 encounters, including the World Championship finals in 2008 and 2012.
When they engaged in a “shoulder barge” during their match in the 2018 tournament’s second round, Carter did prevail over his fellow Englishman.
“I stay away from him. He and I haven’t communicated in twenty years. I shared a lot of things and played with him when he was younger,” retorted O’Sullivan, using several expletives.
“For him to come out and trash talk me like that, everybody knows what he’s like; he’s got issues. Why has he had issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care.
“I will not skirt around it any more, tiptoeing on egg shells around someone like that.
“He’s a nightmare. To have to play snooker against someone like that is a nightmare. [He’s] not a nice person, not a nice vibe that he leaves around the table.
“That’s it; I’ve said my piece. I’ve said it now. Done.”
‘Bad blood’ leads to ‘not great headlines’
Carter hit back again on Tuesday, telling ITV: “Ronnie is entitled to his opinion. I just said what it is and how it was, and I talk facts. It is as simple as that.
“It makes no difference to me what he says—he says different things on different days. I don’t think he even knows what is going to come out of his mouth at certain times.
“I actually feel a bit sorry for him. I don’t think he is that good. So we move forward, and we go again this week.”
Ken Doherty, a former world champion, stated that the current dispute did not reflect well on the sport.
Doherty stated: “There is history behind it with the shoulder barge at the World Championship, and it goes from there” during ITV4’s broadcast of this week’s Grand Prix event.
“There is ill will between them, and [O’Sullivan] was also responding to what Ali stated during the press conference.
“I am sure World Snooker will review it, and we’ll see what happens, but not great headlines, really.”
