Coverage of Ali Carter v Ronnie O'Sullivan from the Crucible Theatre

• World Championship schedule and draw
• Higgins counts on Crucible experience
• Richard Mann's top 16 player profiles
• Sky Bet's snooker odds
• 2017/18 snooker calendar

By Richard Mann...

Result: Ali Carter 13-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan

Incredible scenes at the Crucible Theatre as hot-favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan is knocked out by Ali Carter.

Great match, great drama but Carter too strong in the end.

Carter clearly thrilled with his victory and O'Sullivan gracious in defeat: "The best man won, he did a Mayweather on me."

Frame Twenty Two

Ronnie on the edge and another poor safety gives Carter the first chance.

A bit of a delay as the referee has to re-spot the pink. Carter going well on 15.

26 and brown to red negotiated with aplomb. His heart must be pounding out of his chest.

On to 43 but he needs to go into the reds now.

Not ideal and as he slides off the pack. Only a long red available.

It's there but no position on the black. Strong safety to follow.

Boy it's tense in the Crucible.

Ronnie on the edge and misses a long red by a distance.

O'Sullivan stays alive with a long red from the Gods.

A terrible miscue on the blue from O'Sullivan and could that be the end?

Long red from Carter and a snooker to follow. The captain is steering a tight ship.

The last rites being read to O'Sullivan as Carter goes past the finishing line.

Just the encore to come.

It's over.

Ronnie gracious in defeat and the pair share a warm handshake.

And then Carter celebrates with an outpouring of emotion.

Huge win for Carter.

Frame Twenty One

Poor break off from O'Sullivan and Carter pots a red to middle. Can't get good position, though.

Another lapse safety from O'Sullivan and Carter knocks in the long red. Black to follow but he's forced to retreat to the long grass again.

Yet again, Carter pulls out a cracker of a red but safety is the order of the day once more.

'Come on Ronnie' as the Rocket walks to the table following a poor Carter safety.

Work to do but it's a chance.

Huge moment, this.

Ronnie past 50.

A sitter missed to the middle and Carter is back in.

Carter pulls off a fine cannon and pots the last red. Yellow and green stranded on the right-hand side cushion though.

Both safely negotiated and pink and black needed for 12-9.

It's there. Magnificent clearance. Carter holds himself together and is on the verge of one of the biggest wins of his life.

Mid-session interval.

Not sure Ronnie wants it the way he finished that frame.

Out come the players.

What a mini-session we have in store.

Frame Twenty

Ronnie in first. Needs something.

31...

Ronnie breaks down on 59, a thin black catching the near jaw.

Carter misses a tricky red and Ronnie goes past the winning line.

A clearance of 71 and Ronnie stays afloat. Boy it's getting tense here.

Sky Bet go 4/7 Carter and 11/8 O'Sullivan.

• In-play on the betting on the match with Sky Bet

Both players take a minute.

Frame Nineteen

Carter wildly misses from distance but Ronnie left nothing.

Fabulous long red from Carter but black and pink both tied up.

End of break but a 21 point lead for Carter.

O'Sullivan struggling to find his safety game here. Needs to put Carter under more pressure.

O'Sullivan in with a brilliant long pot but blue, pink and black all out of commission.

Pink back on its spot but impossible to clear from here, you'd think.

And a red along the bottom rail fails to drop.

Carter's turn now.

The captain chipping away but still work to do.

More safety. Scrappy stuff.

Carter holding himself together remarkably well here. Ronnie needs a snooker.

Plenty of needle here, a brushing of shoulders as the players pass each other.

And a few words now.

Carter flukes the green but snookers himself on the brown.

Back to one snooker needed but Ronnie hasn't found his touch and Carter knocks in the brown.

11-8.

Frame Eighteen

Safety exchange to begin.

Double into the middle from O'Sullivan but fails to get position.

Cagey stuff.

With a red lurching over the green pocket, plenty of cat and mouse with both players seeking refuge behind the black.

Carter pulls out a cracker to the middle pocket and knocks in the subsequent brown. Great chance, now.

Carter taking his time, sensing the importance of this break. Having the white cleaned now.

62 enough to leave O'Sullivan needing one snooker.

O'Sullivan pots a long red and gets going, presumably waiting for the perfect moment.

Carter snookered but he ought to get out of this one.

And he does before sealing the frame with a long red.

Frame Seventeen

Carter misses from distance twice but leaves O'Sullivan nothing. Ronnie bides his time.

Plenty of safety play as both players feel their way.

Carter is away with a long red into the bottom left-hand corner pocket. No colour to follow, though.

Carter in the balls now but only the pink to play with. Messy table.

The captain moves on to 36. Still going.

Missed yellow with the rest and Ronnie faced with a tricky opener.

Magnificent cannon from O'Sullivan and suddenly the black is out in the open. Plenty of work to be done, though.

Another cannon judged to perfection and he keeps going.

Cannon time again, this time red to red as he clears the last tricky red from the side cushion. Great chance now.

66 of the best you'll ever see. Terrific break.

Carter plays on with pink and black remaining.

Done. 9-8 Carter and it's game on.

Where's your money going?

• In-play on the betting on the match with Sky Bet

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre where the atmosphere is building ahead of the final session between Ali Carter and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Carter currently holds a 9-7 lead but I wonder if it was O'Sullivan who might have slept the better having reduced his deficit from 8-3 at one point.

Having struggled for much of the match, the Rocket took flight when it mattered most and finished the second session much the stronger with breaks of 79 and 105 keeping him in touch and reminding Carter just what a huge task he has on his hands today.

As ever, Sky Bet are offering betting on the match and make O'Sullivan their 8/11 favourite with Carter now available at 11/10.

If O'Sullivan is to make a comeback, you would think the centuries line would be in danger and Sky Bet are offering 7/2 for there to be six or more centuries in the match. We currently stand at three.

Just I reminder, in my preview here, I went for over 3.5 centuries so am currently sweating on one more.

A flavour of what's to come?

Rob Walker doing his stuff again.

'The crowd cannot wait for this to start.'

No we can't, Rob.

Jack Lisowski takes on John Higgins on the other table. Read my preview here.

And here they come, the crowd goes wild as Ronnie strolls out to 'Rock 'N' Roll Star.

Isn't snooker something? Breathe, Richard, breathe. What a mini-session of snooker.

Ronnie O'Sullivan looked down an out when trailing 3-8 but just in case we were in any doubt about what a champion he is, he produces the goods when it matters most.

Ali Carter will be absolutely kicking himself but in truth, it was only a horrible kick for O'Sullivan in frame fourteen than stopped this game from being all square.

O'Sullivan has struggled all day with his cue ball control but just has he did in round one against Stephen Maguire, he has found another gear and Carter was powerless to stop him in the final few frames.

Sky Bet now make O'Sullivan their 8/11 favourite to win the match and that seems pretty generous to me.

I hope you've enjoyed the coverage, please do join me tomorrow for the final session of what could be a classic.

Frame Sixteen

Yet another fabulous long red from O'Sullivan and he's off again.

He's motoring around the table now.

Still going strong as Ali Carter looks on.

Frame safe. Can he finish with a century?

He can.

Wonderful finish. A 105 break in effortless fashion and the Rocket has taken off.

Ali Carter is out of here as the crowd roar Ronnie back to the dressing room.

What a way to finish the second session.

Frame Fifteen

Carter misses from distance and Ronnie gets his chance.

33 and he plays the cannon well. Tricky black to come...

In it drops, 42 and counting.

No century but a break of 79 is enough to pull one back.

How is Ali Carter feeling now?

Huge final frame of the session coming up.

Frame Fourteen

The crowd beginning to find their voice as O'Sullivan knocks in another long red.

48 and counting. Ronnie holding himself together remarkably well despite loud noise from the other table.

Cruel blow as a bad kick means end of the break for O'Sullivan.

Carter left with a golden, potentially match-defining chance.

Carter on the colours, looking good for 9-5.

Very well played Ali Carter. That has to hurt O'Sullivan.

News from the other table is that Mark Allen has beaten Joe Perry and booked his quarter-final spot.

Frame Thirteen

A fine long red from O'Sullivan thumps into the back of the pocket but once again, he runs out of position. Poor safety to follow, too.

Ronnie clearly struggling but you just feel if he can hang in there, the tide might turn. Another great chance following a fine red from distance.

Again, he loses the white. Again, the follow-up safety shot is poor.

But Carter is beginning to look a little jittery now and he lets Ronnie in once more.

A real battle for O'Sullivan this but he might just be finding his touch.

8-5 Carter.

Carter clinging on to favouritism with Sky Bet at 5/6 with O'Sullivan now evens.

• Sky Bet's in-play betting on the Carter v O'Sullivan match is available here.

Welcome back, what can the Rocket produce?

Is the fightback on? I think it might be.

Time for a drink. Back in a jiffy.

• Sky Bet's in-play betting on the Carter v O'Sullivan match is available here.

Mark Allen has taken all four of tonight's frames against Joe Perry and is now just one away from the quarter-finals.

Frame Twelve

Carter with another fine long red and he's in again.

Only 12 this time but a good safety shot to follow. Giving Ronnie nothing.

Ronnie finds a long red from nowhere, the crowd roar in delight and could the fightback be on?

Picking up the race here, Ronnie. Racing round the table.

55. Not a frame winner, but a start.

Carter knocks a long red in, he needs to clear the table. Big moment.

Massive frame goes the way of O'Sullivan who seals the deal with a long run and a mid-range blue.

'Go on Ronnie lad' a member of the audience shouts as the players leave for the mid-session interval.

• Sky Bet's in-play betting on the Carter v O'Sullivan match is available here.

Frame Eleven

The crowd have gone very quiet here. Still waiting for the Rocket to take off.

Ronnie misses another black off the spot and Carter finds himself at the table again.

Worrying signs for O'Sullivan as Carter heads towards fifty in this break. The balls are perfectly placed, too.

No century but a well-taken break of 78 is enough for Carter to go 8-3 ahead.

Sky Bet now make Carter their 2/5 favourite. O'Sullivan is now 2/1 to win the match.

Frame Ten

Ronnie pushes the boat out and pots a screamer to the middle with the white close to the bottom cushion.

Now then Ronnie...

25 and out. A shocking kick on the red puts paid to this visit.

Carter begins the counter now, 16 and counting.

26 point lead before Carter has to play safe.

Ronnie struggling badly here, misses a straightforward blue into the green pocket.

Carter does the rest and the captain keeps on sailing for home.

7-3

Frame Nine

Safety exchange to begin with.

Thin cut into the middle pocket gets Carter underway but no position on a colour.

'Where's the cue ball going?' John Virgo says as Carter goes in off.

Still scrappy but Ronnie finds himself with a chance to at least get his hand on the table.

It comes to nothing but a fabulous long red from Carter fails to find position on the black.

More scrappy stuff but Carter with a chance to take the first frame of the evening.

And there it is, 6-3 to Carter.

Ronnie is rocking in the Crucible Theatre.

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre for the second session of this last 16 clash between Ali Carter and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Carter holds a 5-3 lead having edged the first session but it's still early days and it would come as no surprise to see the Rocket produce some fireworks tonight.

Sky Bet are offering in-play betting on the match and are 4/11 for an O'Sullivan victory and 2/1 for Carter. Which way is your money going?

If you're looking for something a little more exotic, the same firm are offering 2/1 for six or more centuries to be made in the match. We currently stand at two.

Fantastic reception for all four players, the crowd clearly pumped up. It might have something to do with the potent premium lager on offer at the bar.

Mark Allen and Joe Perry conclude their own battle on the other table with the score currently standing at 8-8.

What a session we have had here at the Crucible Theatre.

All eyes were again on Ronnie O'Sullivan but it was Ali Carter who made the early running and in taking the final two frames of the session, he has established a handy 5-3 lead.

Some immediate reaction from Sky Bet who have eased O'Sullivan out to 2/1 for the title. Overreaction?

Don't forget to check out Sky Bet for plenty more snooker odds with this afternoon's action seeing Kyren Wilson take on Jamie Jones and Barry Hawkins and Lyu Haotian continuing their match.

Over on the other table, Mark Allen and Joe Perry are locked at 8-8 in what is turning out to be a real battle.

I'll be back at 7pm for the second session of Carter v O'Sullivan so please do join me then.

Frame Eight

Ronnie in first this time.

Come on Ronnie. #100

Not to be. A tough missed black with the white tight on the cushion lets Carter back in.

Huge moment. Carter misses a black off the spot with the frame at his mercy.

Nothing doing from O'Sullivan, though, and Carter looks to have full control of his ship with clearance of 68 giving him a two frame advantage at the end of the first session.

Sky Bet are still offering 9/4 for Carter to win the match. A long way to go but Ronnie has a real fight on his hands here.

Another century before the end of this session would be nice. Forgive me, but I have a wedding to pay for. And an M.O.T.

On we go.

Frame Seven

Carter strokes in another long red on the right side of the table straight from O'Sullivan's break off.

That's happened a few times this morning, might be something for O'Sullivan to look at.

Only costs O'Sullivan 20 as Carter breaks down. Nip and tuck out there.

Three balls on the left-hand side cushion and one on the opposite cushion but Carter in command with a 26 point lead and counting.

Poor miss from Carter. Can Ronnie counter?

No. O'Sullivan misses from mid-range and Carter takes advantage by going 4-3.

That green from O'Sullivan I told you about in frame two. Take a look at this.

Frame Six

Oh my word. A stonking long red from Carter and he's in first again.

Carter very unlucky as a cannon just goes awry and he's forced to retreat to the long grass.

John Higgins told me on Friday that it's always nice weather in Sheffield. It's looking pretty bleak out there right now, John.

I wonder if John is following this blog. I doubt it but if you are John, hello and very well played in your first-round match.

Jack Lisowski awaits the four-times world champion in the last 16.

Right, back to business.

Ronnie is in the balls and will fancy his chances of winning the frame at this visit.

96 clearance from O'Sullivan and we're all square again.

Frame Five

Carter in the balls and looking good with a lead of 45 and counting.

And he's over the winning line in frame five, but there's still a possible century there for the taking.

90, 93, 97, 102, 108, 115.

Aye, aye captain! Majestic stuff from Carter whose clearance of 115 gives him a 3-2 lead.

Two up for the centuries bet now, too. I'm getting giddy.

Here's a look back at yesterday's preview. Not that I like to boast or anything,

Right, back to action.

• Sky Bet's in-play betting on the Carter v O'Sullivan match is available here.

Meanwhile, I can report the Media Centre Salt and Vinegar crisps to be off a high standard.

Over on the other table, Joe Perry has played some terrific stuff to level up his match with Mark Allen. The pair are now locked at 6-6.

This one could be a classic.

Sky Bet's in-play betting on that match is available here.

Frame Four

O'Sullivan misses a red with the rest on 14 and captain pots a superb opener.

My, we are being treated to some fabulous stuff here.

Early start this morning but no need for Coffee, which is a rarity. Electric stuff on the baize.

Stop it Ali...after a tactical exchange of two shots, Carter finds a superb plant but is unlucky to land on nothing.

Ronnie snookered and in some trouble, though.

Things have suddenly turned scrappy here but Carter finds himself presented with a decent chance and with a 31-16 lead. He'll want to make it count.

Carter plays safe 35 ahead with 35 left on the table. Big moment, this.

And Carter does enough to level up at 2-2.

What an absorbing four frames of snooker; Ronnie looks in good touch but Carter is here to play and is clearly up for a scrap. What a fighter he is.

• Sky Bet's in-play betting on the match is available here.

Frame Three

And he's off again...

147 alert!

Three reds, three blacks.

Stand down, stand down. He's potted a blue.

A missed red on 44 and end of break.

Carter straight in the balls, the captain looks fired up.

O'Sullivan back in charge and suddenly he's 2-1 in front. A clearance of 61 this time.

Frame Two

Ronnie is off an running, a belting long red and a blue to follow.

49 and counting from the Rocket.

75...94...103.

An absolute masterpiece from the Mozart of snooker. A clearance of 121 and one of the finest breaks you are likely to see.

The long green was an early audition for shot of the championship; straight into the heart of the pocket and swinging the white round off two cushions to dislodge the two reds on the right-hand side cushion. Brilliant stuff.

One up for the centuries bet, too. Three more to go.

Frame One

O'Sullivan in first but only makes 16 before playing safe.

Cagey stuff now but Carter finally finds himself in the balls with a chance to make a decent contribution.

Two visits to the table see Carter do enough to leave Ronnie needing a snooker. Ronnie plays on.

And Carter takes a 1-0 lead. Nothing flash but he looks sharp.

Welcome to the Crucible Theatre where Ali Carter has the unenviable task of facing Ronnie O'Sullivan for a place in the quarter-finals.

O'Sullivan produced some sparking snooker in his opening match, overcoming a 3-6 overnight deficit to win 7 of the last eight frames against Stephen Maguire.

Carter, meanwhile, looked in really good form when knocking out former champion Graeme Dott and will be hopeful of making a bright start this morning.

Sky Bet make O'Sullivan there 1/8 favourite while Carter can be backed at 5/1.

Ronnie (-5.5) is 10/11 on the handicap.

In my match preview here, I'm hoping for centuries.

Rob Walker doing a typically fine job of warming up the crowd.

No surprise to see that it's a packed house here at the Crucible Theatre, O'Sullivan still guaranteed to put bums on seats.

And here come the players...

Joe Perry and Mark Allen on the other table with the latter holding a 5-3 overnight lead.

And now warm applause for Carter.

But a roar for the Rocket who walks out to an electric reception.

Related snooker links

• World Championship schedule and draw
• Higgins counts on Crucible experience
• Richard Mann's top 16 player profiles
• Sky Bet's snooker odds
• 2017/18 snooker calendar