Ronnie O’Sullivan crashes out after bitter battle with Ali Carter at World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan clashed with Ali Carter in a bitter Crucible row as the five-time winner crashed out of the World Snooker Championship.

Title favourite O'Sullivan snapped at Carter in the 19th frame of the second-round match, describing the 38-year-old as "Mr Angry" after also appearing to barge him. Carter went on to clinch a 13-9 victory, his first victory over O'Sullivan in a major tournament after years of trying.

O'Sullivan had just fluked a snooker when he and Carter collided at the side of the table in a flash point that defined the match. Once back in his seat, O'Sullivan said: "That's for being Mr Angry." He then told Carter it was his turn to play, sparking Carter to respond: "Thank you very much, very nice of you."

"Stop being angry then," O'Sullivan said. Referee Paul Collier intervened and said: "Right fellas, just play on", with O'Sullivan then saying he was "cool as a cucumber".

O'Sullivan trailed 11-9 at the mid-session interval, but he had been off his game for most of the match and it was no surprise that he inched no closer. Carter was clinical as he set up a quarter-final date with Mark Williams or Robert Milkins.

Dennis Taylor, the 1985 world champion, said on the BBC: "I've never seen that at the Crucible in 41 years."

Carter grumbled before the match began that snooker had become 'The Ronnie O'Sullivan Show'. He also failed to shake hands with referee Paul Collier after the second session on Friday, a possible sign of irritation at his lead being whittled down.

He led 9-7 overnight and although O'Sullivan won the first frame of Saturday's afternoon session, Carter did not let him encroach any closer before the interval.

Carter came into the match having never beaten his former practice partner in a major match. Their four previous Crucible clashes had all gone to O'Sullivan, including their duels in the 2008 and 2012 finals.

But this time it was Carter closing in on the win, and he took the first frame after the resumption to move 12-9 in front. Carter jumped on an early chance in the next frame to clinch a 13-9 victory, and pumped his fist in delight as he left the arena.

O'Sullivan blamed the altercation with Carter of there being so little space in the Cruciible. "Sometimes you just touch each other," he said. "It's nothing, it's heat-of-the-moment stuff." He said it was important to "make a bit of a joke of the situation."

Carter said: "The win's a great win. I've the utmost respect for Ronnie."

Asked about the incident in the 19th frame, Carter said: "He didn't exactly headbutt me. He didn't go too far. I didn't take it as anything. He's picking up my vibe. I was putting it on him big time in this match and Ronnie's very, very clever in all aspects, you have to be to be as successful as he has. It put a bit of spice in it but it didn't derail me."

Carter added: "We're competitors. I'm not interested in being friends with anyone on the tour."

PA