'It's a great practice match' – Carter reveals inspiration ahead of O'Sullivan clash

Ali Carter has revealed he will go into his match with old rival Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Tour Championship quarter-finals in Manchester on Wednesday with one eye on the World Championship later this month.

“I’m delighted to get over the line because it got a little bit sticky,” said Carter ahead of the best-of-19 frame encounter with O’Sullivan at the elite 12-man event. “Everyone is saying at 7-1 the match is won, but it’s not won until you reach 10.

“Coming through that match, there is a feather in my cap really because I was under extreme pressure.

“I’m playing well, but sometimes the game doesn’t let you play well. You’ve just got to keep battling away.”

It will be the first time Carter and O’Sullivan have met since their bad-natured Masters final at Alexandra Palace in January that saw the Rocket claim a record eighth Masters title with a 10-7 victory over his Essex rival by winning seven of the final eight frames.

Carter has only managed one win against O’Sullivan in 20 matches over the past 23 years – a 13-9 victory in the last 16 of the 2018 World Championship in Sheffield when they brushed shoulders at the table.

“I relish the challenge now because he’s the best player to pick up a cue,” said Carter on ITV. “I’ve played him in a final this year. To play him in another quarter-final, I’m in the right place.

“It’s a great practice match for the World Championship. Coming here, I wanted to get as many best-of-19 frame matches in the bank. And what is a better match than against the greatest player of all time?

“I’m under no pressure. Only the pressure I put on myself to perform. I know I’ve put the work in. My preparation has been good. So we’ll see what happens.”

The match starts at 1pm with eight frames to be played in the first session before they play to a finish from 7pm this evening.

The winner will meet Zhang Anda or Gary Wilson in Friday’s semi-finals.