LIVE Update: Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter resume their struggle for greatness in the 50th Masters final
Welcome to Eurosport’s live updates from the final of the 2024 Masters between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter at Alexandra Palace in London with O’Sullivan bidding to become the oldest and youngest winner of the elite event after lifting the first of his seven Masters titles back in 1995. Stream top snooker action, including the Masters, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
Ronnie O’Sullivan wraps up win over Shaun Murphy in Masters semi-final
O’Sullivan wraps up win over Murphy in Masters semi-final
O’SULLIVAN 3-6 CARTER
It was scrappier than in the afternoon, but Ali clears to the black and looks in decent control of himself.
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THE MASTERS
WHITE AND MCMANUS BACKING ‘SMARTEST GUY’ O’SULLIVAN TO COME GOOD IN MASTERS FINAL
3 HOURS AGO
O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER (39-41)
Lovely pot from Ali, clipping the penultimate red to the yellow, and he should do enough from here.
O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER (39-40)
Ronnie quickly closes the gap, missing his first go at developing a railed red, then not getting a firm enough cannon the next.So he considers a double, then plays safe, blocking the route to the one not on the side with the blue.
O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER (19-40)
Carrying on where he left off this afternoon, Ali confidently removes balls, until a poor red leaves him with a difficult shot to drain blue and get on to the next ball. So he drops in the former, then thinks about a tricky pot before playing safe … and drifting in, in-off. That might cost him … or it might not, because Ronnie misses the starter to left corner … with safety in mind, of course, meaning Ali misses to right, Ronnie sends it down into the opposite bag, and off he goes again. There’s a lot to do for him to take the frame, but.
O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER (14-18)
The reds are pretty nicely spread but the black’s tied up and the pink is towards the side, so it’ll take a fair bit of work to craft something telling from here. The way he’s playing, though, Ali can definitely make it work.
O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER (14-1)
Ali misses a thin contact, leaves Ronnie in the pack with a poke to left corner, and the greatest of all time is away, quickly breaking the pack … and landing on nowt. So he plays safe, almost fluking one into right-centre … which Ali quickly cleans up. He’s feeling himself – for now, at least.
OUR BOYZ BAIZE
And off we go!
“SO GOOD I HAD TO WATCH IT TWICE”
Says Angles of the first session. I love how much he loves this thing of ours.
IT’S BEEN ANOTHER TERRIFIC TOURNAMENT
We’ve had various deciders, Ding’s 147, Allen’s comeback from 1-4 down against Selbz, featuring a 147 – and lots else besides. And the best may be yet to come.
ANGLES ON STEPHEN
Eurosport’s man won this pot in 1995, beating Hendry in the final. He said that his opponent fluked a snooker and grinned at him, so they had a Glasgow moment and he thought “I’m gonnae get ye!”
RONNIE AND ALI SPEAK
The former says that Hendry winning the Masters five times on the spin is his favourite memory, but his best performance came in 2014 when he flattened Selby; for Ali, it’s the late Paul Hunter taking the title, and he’s hoping to use him as inspiration.
ANGLES AND JIMMY ARE IN THEIR WHISTLES
A double-breasted waistcoat for the latter, a pocket kerchief for the former.
NOW THEN!
Our first session was a frankly revolting display of competence, both players in nick and having at it and each other. Ali probably knows he can’t win from behind, so will be delighted to have a lead – if he can take the opener tonight, he’ll really be talking – while Ronnie knows he can win any match from any position, and if it’s tight down the stretch, it’ll be Ali, pursuing his first triple crown event, feeling the occasion.
EVENING ALL!
We go again…
LATEST SCORE: O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER
Thanks for joining us. We will be back at 6.45pm this evening with the Masters final played to a conclusion. Carter with breaks of 106, 122 and 74 O’Sullivan making 125 and 86 in response. A possible 11 frames to be played this evening. First man to 10 frames this evening wins the £250,000 first prize and the Paul Hunter trophy.
LATEST SCORE: O’SULLIVAN 3-5 CARTER
O’SULLIVAN 3-4 CARTER (0-74)
A 74 break from Carter is enough to get the job done. Ronnie has seen enough, and heads for the exit door. A 5-3 lead for Carter heading for the final session this evening. Work to be done by the world No. 1 tonight.
O’SULLIVAN 3-4 CARTER (0-51)
Carter heading past the 50 mark, but has not had to work for this opening. Should be a two-frame advantage heading for this evening’s second session.
O’SULLIVAN 3-4 CARTER (0-28)
Poor shot by O’Sullivan early in the eighth frame trying to open up the reds and play safe, but leaves an easy opener for Carter to get moving. Not sure about that shot as O’Sullivan heads back to his chair with white left in middle of table. Could be a 5-3 lead for Carter incoming here.
O’SULLIVAN 3-4 CARTER (0-0)
Off we go then for the eighth frame of a possible 19 in this Masters final. Carter needing to win this frame to take a lead into the evening session.
O’SULLIVAN 2-4 CARTER (87-0)
What a shot by Ronnie to crack a red into a right centre bag to keep the break going. Is this going to be the fourth century of the final? Not quite as a red stays out. But 86 does the job every day of the week. And it is 4-3 to Carter with one more frame of the opening session to play.
O’SULLIVAN 2-4 CARTER (54-0)
Ronnie quickly up to 45 before he opens up the pack of reds via the black, and this is a glorious chance to move back to 4-3 behind now.
O’SULLIVAN 2-4 CARTER (23-0)
Interesting times as Carter attempts a long red. Way off the potting angle, but Ronnie misses the black. Both players then missing reds that scarcely seemed believable before Ronnie picks out a nice red and green to calm matters. Chance then for O’Sullivan to go to work again in this final. O’Sullivan with a shot time of 17 seconds, Carter on 19 seconds a shot. A very brisk pace. Ronnie trying to build a lead at this visit.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 CARTER (47-59)
Brilliant shot by Ronnie to slot yellow and spring green after making 46, but green doesn’t drop using his left hand and he has stuck it up for Carter, who slots green, brown, blue and pink to move 4-2 clear. Real chance for 3-3, but Carter steals it. Two more frames to play in this session.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 CARTER (37-41)
O’Sullivan with a stunning long red to get back in among the balls. Will that green on the side cushion save Carter in this frame?
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 CARTER (1-41)
Another brilliant shot by Carter to splatter open the reds. Certainly getting through the white ball with these shots. But he is out of position on 28 and goes for a tough red that doesn’t drop. O’Sullivan then cans a long red, but doesn’t land on the black. Nothing doing from the yellow. And Carter can’t put the frame away from an easy red with the rest. Bit of safety coming up with Carter holding a lead of 40 points.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 CARTER (0-22)
Super long red from Carter early in the sixth frame of the day. Tries to open the pack of reds via the blue off two cushions, but the white ball sticks in the pack this time. Just the safety shot back to baulk for Ali. O’Sullivan rattles the jaws with a long red in response. And Carter sinks a red to left middle to regain access to the table.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 CARTER (14-122)
A stunning clearance of 122 from Carter gives him a 3-2 lead. An eighth century of the week from ‘The Captain’ equals the record set by O’Sullivan in 2007 and 2009. Shows how much confidence is in his cue action at the moment.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 CARTER (14-88)
Another frame disappears as quick as you like. Carter aiming for another century here.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 CARTER (14-49)
Superb recovery pot on a red to green pocket hits the mark from Carter, who is piecing together an excellent break. Chance to win frame for a 3-2 lead in this final after Ronnie missed the red to yellow pocket.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 CARTER (14-24)
Off we go then for the next four frames of this final. O’Sullivan coming off two cushions to nestle on the pack of reds. O’Sullivan then comes up with stunning red to left middle to break the deadlock. What an opening red that is at pace. But can’t open the pack of reds and a red to yellow pocket fails to drop. Chance then for Carter to respond. And he opens up the reds via the black. Chance to make a heavy contribution at this visit.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 CARTER (0-0)
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‘I don’t love the circus around tournaments’ – O’Sullivan aiming to strike a balance
O’SULLIVAN 1-2 CARTER (125-0)
A stunning break of 125 from O’Sullivan, and he doesn’t even bother with the black. All out attacking play from O’Sullivan. This final is nicely poised then at 2-2. Breaks of 106 and 68 from Carter, and a 125 from the world No. 1. Another four frames this afternoon to be negotiated.
O’SULLIVAN 1-2 CARTER (100-0)
And make that a century for the snooker GOAT. 12 seconds a shot from O’Sullivan in this break. Fabulous, fabulous stuff.
O’SULLIVAN 1-2 CARTER (81-0)
Tough black for Rocket Ronnie wriggles in the jaws, but in it goes. Wow. This is so fast. Four frames done in under an hour. Brilliant start to this final. Is Ronnie going to make a century of his own? Every chance now.
O’SULLIVAN 1-2 CARTER (40-0)
Lovely long red by Ronnie to get the party started in the fourth frame. Which is followed by a yellow to right centre. And he slams in a superb black to keep the break going. Both players right on it so far in this final. O’Sullivan looking to level us up here at 2-2 before the mid-session interval.
O’SULLIVAN 1-1 CARTER (31-68)
Carter is taking these balls well again as a tough black drops in. But he breaks down on 43 as he screws a white into the right centre pocket. Ronnie out of his chair by sliding home a tough red before slamming in a blistering long blue. What a recovery pot that is. But can’t land on one of the final three reds. And a double fails to drop. O’Sullivan going for everything at the moment. Carter slides in a long red in response. Chance to move 2-1 clear. And in goes red and black he needs. O’Sullivan has seen enough. A 2-1 lead for Carter.
O’SULLIVAN 1-1 CARTER (14-15)
Dreaded bump off left middle pocket for Carter in trying to run the white back up to baulk. Ronnie makes a rapid break of 14, but a tricky red across the table fails to drop. Chance missed for O’Sullivan on that occasion. Ali slides in the red via the pack, but isn’t on a colour here. Just the one point before he runs safe to the top cushion. O’Sullivan narrowly fails to triple a red across the table to right centre bag. Ali back at the table.
O’SULLIVAN 1-0 CARTER (0-106)
In goes the black for the century. That is a stunning response from the world No. 10. A break of 106, and this final is level at 1-1. Carter’s seventh century of the week. Very aggressive from both men.
O’SULLIVAN 1-0 CARTER (0-82)
Golden chance for Carter to cash in. Should be a frame-winning run to the line in this second frame. That safety shot from Ali set to pay off by restoring parity at 1-1 in this 50th Masters final. Can he make a century?
O’SULLIVAN 1-0 CARTER (0-16)
Superb attacking safety shot by Carter to knock a red into the pack of reds before screwing the white back to baulk. White near bottom cushion is a real result. Tough long shot on a red facing O’Sullivan which he can’t sink and a glorious chance for Ali to make a heavy contribution of his own.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 CARTER (72-5)
68 points the difference, 59 remaining. Carter coming back to the baize, but this frame is surely a done deal. Carter decides he has seen enough of this opening frame. O’Sullivan leads 1-0.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 CARTER (57-0)
This has been an impressive start by O’Sullivan as another long red doesn’t touch the sides. Back out for the black, and a chance to get this frame won at the second visit. Looking extremely sharp among balls and from distance.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 CARTER (26-0)
Brilliant long red from Ronnie played with a trace of side to get back up to baulk in case red never dropped. Tries to crack open the reds off black. Doesn’t land on an easy red, but holes a brilliant long red and slides in an excellent green to stay at table. Determined to make the most of this visit, but break ends as he can’t land on black from a tough shot on red using the rest. Decent stuff early on as he nudges white to safety.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 CARTER (0-0)
A rousing reception for both men after emerging from the top of the stairs. A fist bump behind the trophy at the table before O’Sullivan breaks off the first frame of a possible 19 in this final of the 50th Masters. And it is an excellent break-off shot from O’Sullivan to get the balls rolling.
13:10 HOW ROCKET RONNIE ROCKED THE UK
O’Sullivan became the youngest and oldest winner of the UK Championship with a 10-7 victory over Ding Junhui in York last month, and can repeat the trick at the Masters. O’Sullivan starts 4/11 favourite with Carter rated an 11/4 shot.
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O’Sullivan emotional as he clinches UK Championship glory with stunning clearance
13:00 HOW DO THE FINAL DUO MATCH UP?
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng)
- Age: 48
- World ranking: 1
- Masters titles: 7
- First ranking event victory: 1993
- Last ranking event victory: 2023
- Total ranking event wins: 40
- World titles: 7
- Centuries: 1,232
- 147s: 15
- Ali Carter (Eng)
- Age: 44
- World ranking: 10
- Masters titles: 0
- First ranking event victory: 2009
- Last ranking event victory: 2023
- Total ranking event wins: 5
- World titles: 0
- Centuries: 407
- 147s: 3
12:50 ROCKET V CAPTAIN MASTERS FINAL SHOWDOWN: ‘MR ANGRY, MOZART AND STEPHEN FRY’S PERFECT BREAK’
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter have enjoyed some stirring battles at the World Championship in Sheffield, but will meet in the Masters final on Sunday for the first time at the Alexandra Palace in London. It is an occasion that is ripe for drama aplenty with neither man willing to take a backward step – on or off the old green baize. Read more of our preview here
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Relive O’Sullivan and Carter’s shoulder barge spat at 2018 World Snooker Championship
12:45 WELCOME TO THE ALEXANDRA PALACE
It’s cold outside, but there will be no lack of heat at London’s Ally Pally today as old foes Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter do battle for the biggest invitational event in the sport. O’Sullivan is chasing a record-extending eighth Masters title, while Carter is hoping to go one better than his 10-8 defeat to Stuart Bingham in the 2020 final. First man to 10 frames earns £250,000 and the Paul Hunter trophy. Boys on the baize at the back of 1pm.
‘I am just squeezing as much lemon juice out of this lemon as I can’ – O’Sullivan on form
CARTER HITS THREE STRAIGHT CENTURIES IN EPIC WIN OVER ALLEN TO SET UP O’SULLIVAN SHOWDOWN
Ali Carter will face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2024 Masters final after a stunning 6-3 victory over Mark Allen on Sunday.
‘The Captain’ made tournament history and racked up three straight centuries in an emphatic performance at Alexandra Palace as he chases his first Masters title.
Carter will meet O’Sullivan on Sunday, who dispatched Murphy 6-2 earlier on Saturday to wrap up the first final spot.
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