Ronnie O’Sullivan has clawed his way back into his World Championship clash with Ali Carter although he still trails 9-7 heading into Saturday’s final session. The Rocket has not looked at his best throughout this year’s tournament at the Crucible, as he only just overcame Stephen Maguire 10-7 in the first round, while he has looked second best for much of his contest with Carter.
Indeed, the five-time world champion at one stage trailed his fellow Englishman 8-3, but he managed to rally by winning four of the final five frames of Friday’s action to set up a potential grandstand finish when the match reaches a conclusion on Saturday. O’Sullivan will certainly fancy his chances of beating Carter as he has twice beat the number 15 seed in the World Championship final, achieving that feat in 2008 and 2012.
Indeed, the 42-year-old has won 16 of their 17 previous meetings, with Carter’s only success coming when the two players met in the 2010 Championship League. O’Sullivan is priced at 4/6 to overturn his deficit and once again beat Carter on Saturday, while the Captain, who is looking to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship for the first time since 2012, is available at 23/20. Whoever does emerge from the second-round contest will take on either Mark Williams or Robert Milkins in the quarter-finals, although those two players won’t begin their clash until Saturday evening.
Snooker odds available at Dafabet.