Crucible Grudge Match: O’Sullivan Faces Off Against Fierce Rival Ali Carter in Explosive First-Round Duel

The seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is set for a blockbuster showdown at this year’s World Snooker Championship, having been drawn against long-time rival Ali Carter in the opening round at the Crucible Theatre. This high-stakes clash rekindles one of the sport’s most heated rivalries, which dates back years and reached boiling point during their infamous shoulder-barge encounter in 2018. That dramatic moment, which saw tensions spill over in front of a stunned crowd, marked a turning point in their already uneasy relationship.

Since then, the animosity has only deepened. The rivalry flared up again during the 2024 Masters final, where O’Sullivan triumphed 10-7 but was embroiled in yet another controversy with Carter. The outspoken champion unleashed a tirade after the match, labelling Carter “not a nice person,” while Carter accused him of “snotting all over the floor,” in what became a public war of words. Their frosty relationship has roots in their early days as practice partners, but years of competition have clearly worn down any sense of camaraderie.

O’Sullivan, seeded fifth this year, heads into the 2025 tournament under a cloud of uncertainty. The 49-year-old hasn’t played a competitive match since January, when he broke his cue during the Championship League. He’s since admitted to struggling with a lack of confidence. However, reports from Sky Sports News suggest a recent productive week of practice at his Saudi Arabia-based academy has reignited his motivation. On Friday, O’Sullivan confirmed his participation, expressing pride in maintaining his unbroken streak of World Championship appearances and optimism about using his new cue.

Carter, for his part, has had to battle through qualifying while nursing a neck injury, but remains a formidable opponent. The match—played over 19 frames across two sessions on April 22 and 23—promises drama, emotion, and no shortage of tension as two of snooker’s fiercest rivals clash once again.

2025 World Championship draw

Top Half
Kyren Wilson (1) v Lei Peifan
Jak Jones (16) v Zhao Xintong
Neil Robertson (9) v Chris Wakelin
Mark Allen (8) v Fan Zhengyi
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5) v Ali Carter
Zhang Anda (12) v Pang Junxu
Si Jiahui (13) v David Gilbert
Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston

Bottom Half
John Higgins (3) v Joe O’Connor
Xiao Guodong (14) v Matt Selt
Barry Hawkins (11) v Hossein Vafaei
Mark Williams (6) v Wu Yize
Luca Brecel (7) v Ryan Day
Ding Junhui (10) v Zak Surety
Shaun Murphy (15) v Dan Wells
Judd Trump (2) v Zhou Yuelong