Ali Carter declares end of friendship with Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ali Carter has stated he no longer views Ronnie O’Sullivan as a friend, despite a seemingly improved relationship earlier this year, asserting that their long-standing and often tumultuous connection has irreparably broken down, reports BritPanorama.
Both players, who have been prominent figures on the snooker circuit for years, appeared to have put their differences aside in April when O’Sullivan referred to Carter as a “good lad.” However, Carter now believes that such sentiment concealed deeper, unresolved tensions between them.
In an interview with the Telegraph and Argus, the 46-year-old expressed his conviction that a genuine friendship with O’Sullivan is untenable due to the former world No 1’s unpredictable temperament. “I don’t really have a relationship with Ronnie,” Carter stated. “He gets out of bed differently every day, so how can you have that relationship? When he’s alright, he’s fine, but when he’s not, he’s not, and a friendship can’t really work on terms like that.”
The rivalry between Carter and O’Sullivan has been simmering for over a decade, with a notable public clash occurring at the 2018 World Championship, where a mid-match confrontation garnered significant media attention. Their feud reignited last year during an encounter at the Masters, in which Carter labelled some crowd members “morons” and accused O’Sullivan of “snotting on the floor.” O’Sullivan retaliated with a highly charged press conference, launching a scathing critique of Carter.
“He needs to sort his fing life out,” O’Sullivan remarked at the time, highlighting the ongoing tensions.
In his latest comments, Carter did not shy away from voicing his feelings further. “I’m not going to skirt around it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells around someone like that,” he stated. “He’s a f***ing nightmare. Playing snooker against someone like that is a nightmare.”
Carter continued, stating, “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. That’s it, I’ve said my piece.” This confrontation appears to represent a breaking point in their relationship, with Carter noting a past incident during the Northern Ireland Open that confirmed for him that civility was no longer an option.
Despite their personal animosities, Carter expressed respect for O’Sullivan’s skill as a player, remarking, “I’ve got the ultimate respect for Ronnie as a snooker player. He’s quite a funny guy actually, but he’s an odd character.”
The depths of their rivalry and the complexities of their relationship highlight the often turbulent nature of competitive sport, where personal feelings and professional encounters create unpredictable dynamics.
