Ali Carter desperate to join rival Ronnie O'Sullivan with snooker star 'chasing down' qualification

Ali Carter desperate to join rival Ronnie O'Sullivan with snooker star 'chasing down' qualification

WATCH NOW: Ronnie O'Sullivan lifts an eighth Masters title after beating Ali Carter

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 30/01/2024

- 10:23

The pair could meet in Saudi Arabia if Carter earns qualification

Ali Carter is keen to join rival Ronnie O'Sullivan at the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker tournament.

He is currently far from guaranteed a spot at the three-day event, which the Rocket is already certain to attend.


The World Snooker Tour announced earlier this month that their first-ever event in Saudi Arabia will take place in March.

It has since been confirmed that the top eight players in the world rankings after the Players Championship will qualify.

Ali Carter and Ronnie O'Sullivan

Ali Carter is keen to join Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker tournament

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There will also be two wildcard players, who will face those ranked seventh and eighth in the first round on March 4.

Carter is currently 11th in the rankings and will need to perform well at the German Masters this week, as well as the upcoming Welsh Open and Players Championship, to earn enough qualification points and climb up the rankings.

The 44-year-old beat Michael White in his first match in Berlin on Monday, edging through with a 5-4 victory.

He was delighted to get off to a winning start, reacting: "I was pleased to dig in and get the win.

"It was a tough match and I knew it would be. I was delighted to come through in the end.

"I’ve had three big finals since winning here last year in Yushan, at the Masters and the Players Championship last season.

"I’m in the Players Championship again this season and hopefully the Tour Championship. It is all good and the spin-offs do happen from winning."

Carter then admitted his aim is to do all he can to earn automatic qualification for the Riyadh tournament.

He added: "Everyone is chasing down a place in Riyadh now. That is going to be a big event and great event to be involved in. Hopefully I’ll pick up enough points to take my place."

If he does qualify, it could throw up a potential clash against O'Sullivan.

The pair most recently met in the final of the Masters, where O'Sullivan came from behind to win.

Afterwards, Carter criticised O'Sullivan for 'snotting all over the floor' during the match.

The Rocket responded with an astonishing rant, by claiming Carter 'needs to sort his f*****g life out'.

Carter then replied by saying he felt sorry for O'Sullivan because he is 'not well mentally'.

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Ali Carter

Ali Carter is aiming to climb the world rankings to qualify for the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker tournament

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The pair's feud dates back to the World Snooker Championship in 2018, where O'Sullivan barged into his opponent at the Crucible.

O'Sullivan, meanwhile, is looking forward to heading to Saudi Arabia.

And he is hoping for a big prize to be available to any player who hits a 167 break, a new concept that will see a golden ball worth 20 points put onto the table if a player hits a 147 break.

O'Sullivan told WST: "What’s the prize for a 167, have they announced it? I’m sure it’ll be a hefty prize.

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter clashed after the recent Masters final

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"Listen, the Saudis can do what they like – they’re a powerful outfit.

"I think it’ll be good, it’d be great to get out there and play, every other sport seems to be doing stuff in Saudi so it’d be great to get out there."

Reigning world champion Luca Brecel and world No 2 Judd Trump are also confirmed to be attending the tournament.

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