O'Sullivan leads Carter narrowly after opening session at 2025 World Championship

Posted : 23 April 2025

Ronnie O'Sullivan made his highly-anticipated return to ranking event snooker, receiving a warm reception at the Crucible. His journey toward securing a record eighth World Championship title began against Ali Carter, in what promised to be an exciting opening match. O'Sullivan, who had not played in a ranking event since November, took some time to find his rhythm. However, it wasn’t long before he showcased his signature potting skills, making for an exciting and evenly matched contest heading into Wednesday’s decisive session.

The rivalry between O'Sullivan and Carter added an extra layer of intrigue to the match, with their historical clashes, including the infamous "barge-gate" incident in 2018, fueling the tension. This encounter marked O'Sullivan's return to the competitive snooker circuit after a five-month absence. Carter seized on some early rustiness from O'Sullivan, claiming the opening frame. The Rocket, equipped with a new cue after breaking his previous one at the Championship League in January, struggled initially to build a significant break, leaving Carter to take the first frame without much resistance.

However, after the shaky start, O'Sullivan quickly settled into the match. He found his form and leveled the score, despite both players missing chances in the second frame. With O'Sullivan trailing by 29 points and only one red remaining, he produced a clinical clearance to draw level, a move that seemed to give the 49-year-old renewed confidence for the rest of the match. His composure was evident as he moved through the frames, with each pot showcasing his trademark finesse.

O'Sullivan’s confidence grew, and he edged out a nervy third frame to take a 2-1 lead. The four-time World Champion then seized control, creating a comfortable two-frame lead heading into the interval. He celebrated his 208th Crucible century with a spectacular 107 clearance. The break came at a pivotal moment for O'Sullivan, who appeared to be gaining momentum. However, Carter quickly responded after the interval, capitalizing on mistakes from O'Sullivan and reducing the deficit to 3-2.

Despite Carter's resilience, O'Sullivan remained determined and extended his lead further. In the sixth frame, Carter produced a solid break of 60, but O'Sullivan remained unfazed. He capitalized on a loose red, hanging over the left pocket, to complete a clearance and take a 4-2 advantage. The Rocket continued to assert his dominance and built on his lead, completing a stylish 85 break to ensure he would head into the evening session with a two-frame cushion.

Carter, however, wasn’t willing to back down. He ensured that the gap remained narrow, producing the first century of his 2025 World Championship campaign to pull the score back to 5-3. In the final frame of the afternoon session, O'Sullivan faced a tricky moment after splitting the pack of reds a bit too forcefully off a blue pot. This left Carter with a chance to capitalize, but the Captain missed a routine red, frustratingly watching it cannon off the jaws of the pocket.

With Carter unable to capitalize on his opportunity, O'Sullivan regained control and looked poised to close out the session. However, he failed to seal the frame, allowing Carter to clear the table and pull back within one frame of his opponent. With the match still finely balanced, the two rivals will face off once again on Wednesday for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to their opening round encounter.

O'Sullivan leads Carter narrowly after opening session at 2025 World Championship

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics