Ronnie O'Sullivan reportedly intends to play at the World Snooker Championship, with the 49-year-old set to face Ali Carter in the first round of the competition.
The Rocket has barely played in 2025, with the snooker icon admitting that he's struggling for confidence.
On Thursday, the draw for the World Snooker Championship was made - with O'Sullivan drawn against Carter.
The duo have a strong rivalry, having clashed before and after last year's Masters - which O'Sullivan won.
Ronnie O'Sullivan reportedly intends to play at the World Snooker Championship, with the 49-year-old set to face Ali Carter in the first round of the competition
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The snooker legend is yet to publicly confirm his intentions for this month's showpiece event at the Crucible.
The Sun says, however, that O'Sullivan intends to take part in the competition as he bids to win it for the eighth time.
If he does, then it will be the 49-year-old's 33rd successive appearance in the tournament.
O'Sullivan is set to appear at the Crucible on Good Friday for the annual pre-Worlds media day, while he'll also feature in the top-16 seeds group photograph.
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When he faces Carter, it will be fascinating to see how their match unfolds.
Their rivalry first started in 2018 when they barged into each other, with O'Sullivan saying at the time: "That’s for being Mr Angry. You shoulder barged me earlier, I thought I’d give you one back."
Carter responded by saying: "Thank you, it's very nice of you."
O'Sullivan then accused his nemesis of 'snotting all over the floor' at last year's Masters, escalating tensions in the process.]
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has barely played snooker in 2025
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"He needs to sort his f*****g life out," he raged.
"I'm not going to skirt around it any more, tip-toeing on eggshells around someone like that. He's a f*****g nightmare.
"Playing snooker against someone like that is a nightmare. 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. I've said it now, done. You know what he's like, everybody knows what he's like.
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"He's got issues. F*****g why has he got issues with me? I'm not having it."
Carter, however, kept his cool and said that he felt 'sorry' for O'Sullivan.
"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," he stated.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter clashed at the 2025 Masters
GettyWhen asked whether he was angry at O'Sullivan's comments, he added: "Angry about what? 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 well, mentally. So we move forward and we go again this week."
