‘He’s got to see a counsellor’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan goes off on X-rated rant aimed at Ali Carter

O’Sullivan claimed a historic eighth Masters title after fighting back from 6-3 down to win the final 10-7.

Carter made a number of unforced errors in the evening session as The Rocket ultimately powered to his latest major triumph at Alexandra Palace.

O’Sullivan has now won 18 of his last 19 meetings with The Captain, though their rivalry turned ugly after the match.

Carter accused his opponent of ‘snotting all over the floor’ and was also unhappy over the behaviour of O'Sullivan’s supporters during the match.

The 44-year-old said, as quoted by Live Snooker: “It’s disgusting quite frankly. No-one wants to say anything, do they?

“Snotting all over the floor and all that. I mean it’s outrageous behaviour from a top professional. If it gets swept under the carpet then for me, it’s not good.

“And there were some morons in the crowd. It’s unbelievable really. It is hard enough to beat him, but when you have people shouting on your shot and saying stupid things at important times. My head wanted to come off.”

O’Sullivan, who is now preparing to start his World Grand Prix campaign in Leicester, unleashed an extraordinary tirade at Carter.

The 48-year-old said: “He needs to sort his f*****g life out. I’m not going to skirt around it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells 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. He’s got issues. F*****g why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls.

“I don’t give a f**k, I don’t give a f**k about any of these snooker players, any of them. The more he brings it on, the more I f*****g punish him every time. He’s just digging a grave for himself.

“I don’t give a f**k. That’s it, I’ve said my piece. He’s got beef with me. He’s got issues, he’s got to sort his life out, he’s got to see a counsellor or something.

“He’s got to deal with that because that’s no good. He’s got to sort it out, because I haven’t spoken to him for 20 years. 

“I played with him when he was a kid and shared a lot of stuff with him. For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what?

“He can have one of them [middle finger], he can sit on it as far as I’m concerned.”

The two men clashed during the 2018 World Championship in an incident which has become known as the infamous ‘shoulder barge’.

Carter previously spoke about The Rocket’s ‘star treatment’ while O’Sullivan has described his rival as ‘Mr Angry’.

Both men are competing at the World Grand Prix in Leicester, though due to the draw, the only way they could meet would be in a potential final.