'Wily old fox' Ali Carter was 'ready to go home' before another thrilling comeback victory to reach Shanghai Masters final
Published 01/08/2025 at 19:05 GMT+1
Ali Carter can look forward to returning to the Shanghai Masters final for the first time since 2010 after sealing a third successive comeback from two frames or more behind. The Captain, who won the tournament as a ranking event when he last featured in the final, made an admission about his thought process during his run to the final.
'Wily old fox' Carter determined to 'upset the apple cart' in Shanghai Masters final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ali Carter admitted he was thinking of catching an early flight home multiple times during his run to the 2025 Shanghai Masters final.
In matches against Mark Williams, Xiao Guodong and Mark Selby, the 2010 winner fought back from three frames twice and two frames against Selby to progress to the final against all odds.
Selby was 8-6 up and leading the 15th frame 45-0 on Friday, when he missed an attempt on the blue to the green pocket.
Carter replied with four frames on the spin to claim victory over the four-time world champion.
"It's just surreal, isn't it? When you don't take it too seriously, and obviously I always want to win, even if I'm playing someone at table tennis, but I was just out there competing really.
"At 8-6 down [against Selby], he missed a blue to give me a glimmer of hope and then one red really won me it, I think I was 20 or 30 [points] in front and he had me in all sorts of trouble with the reds everywhere.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/01/image-2c4c1f6e-8d90-4a71-9d3d-34098c5a94c3-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘That’s a wonderful shot’ – Carter sinks excellent long red ‘under intense pressure’
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I just put all my eggs in one basket, potted the red and cleared up. I think that was to go 8-8, and then I've gone two breaks up, which was very pleasing to score in one visit, 10-8 from 8-6 behind.
"But listen, when I've needed four to win [against Xiao Guodong], I'm ready to go home, looking to move my flight forward, it's as simple as that really.
"Sometimes you can have all the positive things said to you and that you've got to think like this and think like that, but the secret is not to think anything and just turn up and play and whatever happens, happens.
"Really, I shouldn't be here if Mark Allen doesn't withdraw - I hope he's all good by the way. And I'm 40 behind against Williams at 5-2 down. I'm looking at my watch thinking, 'I could get the midnight flight here'. All of a sudden, I've won 6-5 and [now] I'm in the final. Happy days."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/01/image-17080251-9ec6-4b4d-8273-eed3f9dc8344-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘He’s making a career out of it!’ – Carter completes yet another comeback to reach final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Carter, who earned an invite to the event upon world No. 10 Mark Allen's withdrawal, will either face world champion Zhao Xintong or Kyren Wilson in Sunday’s final, where there will be a £210,000 first prize at stake.
"I love Shanghai, love the city, love the tournament, [I] won it back in 2010 when it was a ranking event, so it will be great to have an opportunity to try and win it," he said.
- Wilson downs 'greatest of all time' to set up blockbuster semi-final with Zhao
- 'In same breath as O'Sullivan' - Selby praises 'best in the world' Trump after quarter-final win
- O'Sullivan suffers defeat as Wilson sets up Zhao semi-final clash
"Whether I play Kyren Wilson, growing in confidence year after year and a great player, or the current world champion and everyone's favourite in China, Zhao Xintong.
"I'm like a wily old fox, aren't I? I'll just turn up, see what happens and see if I can upset the apple cart."
Zhao and Wilson go toe-to-toe in the second semi-final at 7am UK time on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Shanghai Masters, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement