Ali Carter handed unlikely early season boost as he returns to career high point at Shanghai Masters - 'An unbelievable thing'
By Desmond Kane
Published 28/07/2025 at 12:09 GMT+1
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Ali Carter achieved the highest ranking of his career when he won the Shanghai Masters with a 10-7 win over Jamie Burnett in 2010. The two-time Crucible finalist became world No. 2 following the second ranking title success of his career and has been presented with the chance to chase former glories after Mark Allen withdrew. Carter faces Qiu Lei on Tuesday morning, a match he won 6-0 last year.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Ali Carter will aim to recapture his former glories when he begins his quest for a second Shanghai Masters snooker title on Tuesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
The two-time Crucible finalist reached the highest ranking of his elite career when he secured the world No. 2 spot following a 10-7 win over Jamie Burnett in the final of the 2010 event.
The Shanghai Masters reverted from ranking to an invitational tournament in 2018 with the top 16 in the world invited to participate in the latest staging of the prestigious 24-player competition.
That would have seen Carter miss out this time, but world No. 10 Mark Allen's decision to withdraw due to personal reasons has presented the world No. 17 with an unlikely spot in the first-round draw.
The six-time ranking event winner will hope to make the best of his early-season boost when he takes to the table in the chase for the £210,000 first prize.
The Essex potter recalls the memorable journey to his maiden success in Shanghai.
"I remember having an eventful flight over with Shaun Murphy, drinking a bit too much," said Carter, who turned 46 on Friday.
"I felt absolutely awful for two days, didn't come out my room, but somehow managed to be the last man standing at the end of the week.
"I was going through different bits in my life at that time, let my hair down, and I was in all sorts of trouble.
"We ended up picking up the trophy at the end of the week.
"Which is an unbelievable thing, and a great memory."
Carter completed wins over David Harold (5-3), Stuart Bingham (5-3), Matthew Stevens (5-4) and Mark Selby (6-2) in reaching the final before overcoming Burnett.
He is set to face Chinese wildcard Qiu Lei on Tuesday at 2:30am BST with the winner taking on Mark Williams in the last 16 on Wednesday at 7am.
Carter will aim for a similar outcome as last year when he whitewashed Qiu 6-0 in the first round, boosted by breaks of 76, 63, and 51.
Carter began his 2025/26 campaign with a 5-2 win over Florian Nuble to qualify for the last 64 of the Wuhan Open, an event where he will face Jackson Page on Sunday 24 August.
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His defence of the Championship League was ended by Liam Davies in the opening group stage, but he is seeded through to the final venue of the British Open in Cheltenham and a tournament opener with Patrick Whelan next month.
Meanwhile, world No. 1 Judd Trump begins his title defence in Shanghai against Neil Robertson or Pang Junxu at 12:30pm on Tuesday with 2011 winner Mark Selby taking on Shaun Murphy or Han Fuyuan at 7am.
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