'It'll be a white-hot atmosphere' - Alan McManus expects Ali Carter Crucible clash to 'kick Ronnie O'Sullivan into gear'
Updated 17/04/2025 at 19:25 GMT+1
Speaking after the draw was made Alan McManus shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated clash between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter in the first round of the World Snooker Championship. The thrilling rivalry is set to resume on the sport's biggest stage as the best players in the world battle it out for the crown over 17 days at the Crucible Theatre, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Alan McManus thinks a blockbuster meeting with Ali Carter in the first round of the World Snooker Championship could be the perfect tonic to "kick Ronnie O’Sullivan into gear."
The Rocket has been out of action since January since snapping his cue and pulling out of the Championship League before he was scheduled to take on Carter.
That sparked a series of withdrawals from some of the biggest events on the calendar but, as fate would have it, he will return against his old foe after confirming his comeback exclusively to TNT Sports on Thursday.
All the action from the Crucible is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"It’s almost like you could be forgiven for thinking the draw was hand-picked," TNT Sports expert McManus said. "A repeat of the Masters final 15 months ago.
"I think as well as that it’s good they’re scheduled to play Tuesday, Wednesday, because Ronnie is going to be a bit deeper into the tournament by the time he plays. So effectively, it’s only a 14-day event for him instead of a 17-day thing.
"And Ali Carter has got a stiff neck but hopefully he can get rid of that by the time Tuesday rolls along.
"I haven’t looked at the head-to-head. I think Ali’s only ever beaten him once but crucially, it was at the Crucible. They’ll be playing on the different side of the arena to that time, but I think it’s a great match for both of them.
"It’s almost like it’s one that will get both of them up for it. Ronnie has got to start favourite. Ali has struggled this season with one thing or another and his form, but I think it’ll maybe kick Ronnie into gear.
"The challenge has been laid down so let’s do it."
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Relive ‘ugly’ 2018 shoulder barge incident between O’Sullivan and Carter at Crucible
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There is no shortage of history between the two players. The last time they met at the Crucible in 2018 was an extremely tense affair, the infamous incident where they shoulder barged each other as O’Sullivan walked back to his chair grabbing the headlines.
Carter prevailed 13-9 that day to reach the quarter-finals, but it is a rivalry O’Sullivan has dominated, winning 24 of their 27 encounters.
They also met in the final of the 2024 Masters, and although O’Sullivan’s 10-7 victory passed without incident during the match, there were heated words in the aftermath.
"I know he’s withdrawn from a lot of tournaments, certainly this season, but I just think this is a challenge he might feel he can’t back down from," McManus added.
"It’ll be a brilliant occasion. It’ll be a white-hot atmosphere in there. Ali, you could tell the way he won last night punching the air a few times, will be bang up for it which is what you want.
"Let’s hope Ronnie is the same. We know Ali is going to be… that’s like a red rag to a bull."
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Tricky route to one-table set-up
O’Sullivan is the most decorated player in the history of the game and is widely considered to be the greatest of all time.
He has, however, struggled for form this season and has yet to claim a title.
But write him off at your peril. After taking an entire year out over 2012 and 2013, he returned to lift the world title at the sport's most iconic venue.
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He currently shares the record for world titles with Stephen Hendry and his route to glory this year is anything but straightforward.
If he beats Carter, a meeting with either Zhang Anda or Pang Junxu awaits before a potential clash with Mark Selby in the quarters, but McManus admitted it "would be just like him" to defy the odds once again and add another chapter to his legacy.
"If I was in Ronnie’s corner, I would have said let’s get up to Sheffield for three or four weeks to one of the academies and get some good practise in with some of the young players that are there at Ding [Junhui’s] academy, for example," McManus continued.
"That would have sharpened him up no end. Whether he’s been doing that, I haven’t heard. I don’t know if he’s been going around practising with some of the other top players, that would be the normal thing to do.
"If he hasn’t been doing that, then there is a question mark over his form coming in [but] it would just be like him to come in and win the thing."
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Stream the 2025 World Championship live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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