Ronnie O'Sullivan is in line to play Ali Carter for the first time since the pair exchanged verbals after the Masters final in January.
Carter will meet the Rocket in the quarter-final of the Tour Championship in Manchester next week if he beats Barry Hawkins in the first round.
The duo have rarely seen eye-to-eye and famously clashed at the 2018 World Snooker Championship when O'Sullivan appeared to barge into Carter.
The seven-time world champion was heard saying 'That's for being Mr Angry' before losing the last-16 clash at the Crucible.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is in line to face Ali Carter at the Tour Championship
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O'Sullivan beat Carter in the Masters final earlier this year to claim the second Triple Crown event of the season.
Carter complained about O'Sullivan's behaviour around the table which sparked a furious reaction from his opponent in the post-match press conference.
Later that week, Carter claimed he felt sorry for O'Sullivan and said he was not well 'mentally'.
They have avoided each other at every tournament since but are now looking likely to face off in Manchester.
Carter must beat Hawkins first, a player he has beaten 13 times out of their 20 career meetings.
The Tour Championship begins on April 1 and runs until April 7 in the final tournament before the World Championship begins.
O'Sullivan will be aiming to win his sixth tournament of the season after recently winning the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
There could be a heated atmosphere if O'Sullivan, who will enter the tournament at the quarter-final stage, faces Carter.
After the Masters final, Carter accused O'Sullivan of 'snotting all over the floor'.
He said: "There were a couple of things that happened out there that go unnoticed. Well, they don't go unnoticed - anyone with an eyesight or a brain can see what's going on.
"It's disgusting quite frankly. No one wants to say anything, do they?
"(O'Sullivan) snotting all over the floor and all that. I mean it's outrageous behaviour from a top professional."
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Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter haven't met since the Masters final
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O'Sullivan was made aware of Carter's comments and let loose at his opponent in his press conference.
He vented: "[Carter] needs to sort his f*****g life out. I'm not going to skirt around it anymore, 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."
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter exchanged verbals after the Masters final
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At the World Grand Prix the following week, Carter told ITV: "Yeah Ronnie's entitled to his opinion of me. I just said what it is and how it was and I talk facts.
"Angry about what? No. Yeah, it makes no difference to me what he says.
"He says different things on different days, I don't think he even knows what's going to come out of his mouth at certain times.
"I actually feel a bit sorry for him, I don't think he's that well, mentally."
