Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ali Carter LIVE: Masters 2024 snooker final result and score as Rocket wins eighth title
Ronnie #Ronnie
Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Ali Carter to win the final of the 2024 Masters, lifting the iconic crystal trophy for a record eighth time.
Both players produced some high-quality, high-pace snooker in the final. Carter took the first frame before O’Sullivan responded with a rapid century and another quick frame to lead 2-1. Carter, though, went into the mini-break with the scores level after producing a magical 125.
O’Sullivan’s attacking approach proved both a blessing and a curse, as he let in Carter who made no mistake with another fabulous century to lead 3-2. They shared the next two frames, before the final frame of the afternoon went the way of Carter, to take a 5-3 lead into the evening in this race to 10.
O’Sullivan came out firing to close the gap in the evening, and they reach the mid-session interval level at 6-6. But from there the seven-time world champion accelerated away, clinching a 10-7 victory.
Follow all the latest updates from the final of the 2024 Masters final between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter below, and get the latest best betting offers here.
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ali Carter
Masters final at Alexandra Palace | Live TV coverage on BBC Two, Eurosport and Discovery+
Ali Carter led Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 following afternoon session (best of 19)
Carter wins frame nine! Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-6 (19) Ali Carter
O’Sullivan wins frame 10! Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 (19) Ali Carter
O’Sullivan wins frame 11! Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-6 (19) Ali Carter
O’Sullivan wins frame 12! Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-6 (19) Ali Carter
Carter wins frame 13! Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
O’Sullivan wins frame 14! Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
O’Sullivan wins frame 15! Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-7 (19) Ali Carter
O’Sullivan wins frame 16! Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2024 Masters!
Summary: Ronnie O’Sullivan wins eighth Masters title
22:13 , Lawrence Ostlere
Ronnie O’Sullivan recovered from 6-3 down to beat Ali Carter 10-7 and claim a record-extending eighth Masters title at Alexandra Palace in London.
Carter looked on course for a first Triple Crown title as he opened up a 5-3 lead after the first session and immediately extended his advantage when play resumed.
O’Sullivan reeled off three frames in a row to get back on level terms before Carter made his ninth century of the tournament in the 13th frame, breaking the record set by O’Sullivan in 2007 and 2009.
However, Carter scored just 51 points in the last four frames as O’Sullivan ruthlessly punished any mistake to win back-to-back Triple Crown events for the first time in his career following his victory in the UK Championship in December.
“I don’t know how I’ve won this tournament, to be honest with you,” O’Sullivan, who at 48 is the oldest ever Masters champion, told BBC Sport.
“I’ve just dug deep. I’ve tried to play with a bit of freedom and then tonight I just thought try to keep Ali honest and if he’s going to win it he’s going to have to scrape me off the table.
“I just wanted to see if he had it at the end.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan watches the ticker tape fall (Getty Images)
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2024 Masters!
22:07 , Lawrence Ostlere
“This boy is the closest thing to genius around. He’s the greatest player ever to pick up a cue by far. Show me a better sportsperson,” says John Parrott.
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2024 Masters!
22:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
Ronnie O’Sullivan: “The crowd have always been good to me here. That’s the one thing I take, the support I’ve had over the years. I’ll keep fighting and trying to pot more balls.”
On winning another title: “If I happen to pick up a few tournaments along the way that’s great, but all I’ve wanted to do is play and enjoy it and master this game. I still haven’t mastered it but I’ll keep trying.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2024 Masters!
22:01 , Lawrence Ostlere
Ronnie O’Sullivan: “I just tried to keep Ali honest, that was the mindset. I just wanted to see if he could get over the line.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2024 Masters!
22:00 , Lawrence Ostlere
Ali Carter: “He’s starting to annoy me,” he jokes. “I’m gutted to have lost obviously but proud of how I played.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the 2024 Masters!
21:58 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan misses another pot but it’s all over. His eighth title is sealed.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:56 , Lawrence Ostlere
Well this is sad to see – Carter misses another red and he seems to have completely fallen off the wagon here. His mind has gone at the end of an epic week. O’Sullivan is going to limp over the line…
Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter misses his own red to the middle, and O’Sullivan is straight back in. He just needs three reds and colours… but he misses a straightforward one! With his left hand, admittedly, but, wow.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:54 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan loses a little bit of control by finishing on the wrong side of the blue, but works the cue ball up through baulk and back down the table to keep the break going. He has 41 points on the board and decides to scatter the reds… but it’s not a good result! The reds are awkward, he misses a tough one to the middle pocket and Carter is back at the table, trailing by 44 points.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:51 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter misses another long red, and this one could be costly. He played it dead weight to leave himself on the black, so he just had to make the pot. He didn’t and O’Sullivan puts away an easy red. He’s in, here. Is this it?
Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan makes the first mistake, missing his target red attempting a very thin nick. Carter decides to take on the tough long red he’s been left, but he doesn’t get close with his effort. O’Sullivan pots his own long-ish red but can only play safe off the green with the next shot, so Carter returns to the table.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:46 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan breaks off and someone in the audience immediately shouts “shot!”, bringing a titter from the crowd. Carter responds with an excellent safety shot.
O’Sullivan wins frame 16! Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:43 , Lawrence Ostlere
Just brilliant from O’Sullivan, not just in this frame but all evening. Yes, Carter has shown a few nerves and that missed red at the start of this frame was very pottable, but for the most part he has been blown away here.
Ronnie O’Sullivan finishes it off and needs only one more frame to clinch the Masters title.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:39 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan is having to think through this break, especially since the pink has gone on holiday to the brown spot after its own spot was covered by reds. This is not flowing, instinctive O’Sullivan but thoughtful, considered O’Sullivan right now, but the result is much the same: He has 48 points and needs only three more reds and colours…
Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:35 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan loses the safety battle, in the sense that he leaves a very pottable long red on, but Carter rattles it in the jaws and it bounces away. That was one he’s been making all week. It will be O’Sullivan with the first shot at putting a big score on the board here.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:33 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan snicks in the first red but sends the white back to safety, and so rolls the cue ball against the baulk cushion off the brown. A big safety battle now, for the chance to build the first break of this frame.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:29 , Lawrence Ostlere
That felt so povital. Every frame is a scrap right now, it seems, but O’Sullivan clung on through some terrible errors to win that one. He’s two frames from winning a record-extending eighth Masters title.
Carter to break.
O’Sullivan wins frame 15! Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:26 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan tidies up the remaining balls to lead this final 8-7. It’s the first time he’s been ahead since winning the very first frame of the day.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:24 , Lawrence Ostlere
After a minute and a half of thinking time, Carter turns down the swerve and instead drills a tricky, long-range red. A great pot, but he misses the extremely thin pink that follows! O’Sullivan comes back to the table leading by four points, with two reds left.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:23 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter misses a red to let O’Sullivan back in but then, well, O’Sullivan misses a red he would normally pot with his eyes closed. Carter comes back to the table and quickly brings the score back to be only five points behind at 45-40, before losing position. He’s eyeing a cheeky swerve shot to keep the frame alive…
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:17 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan puts on 45 points before losing a little bit of position, and his attempt to rectify his mistake – going for a bold red into the right middle pocket – clatters against the near jaw and bounces out. O’Sullivan grins ruefully as Carter bounces out of his seat. He probably wasn’t expecting to come back to the table but now he has a great chance to steal this frame.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:14 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan makes the first mistake, carelessly colliding white with blue on it’s route up towards safety, but Carter misses the mid-length pot, which required an awkward reach. O’Sullivan capitalises, and begins building a break. The balls are well placed for one, although the blue is out of commission.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:11 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan breaks off left-handed in frame 15, and it’s a good one, with the one loose red not pottable. Carter goes around the angles and nestles perfectly against the back of the pack.
O’Sullivan wins frame 14! Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:07 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan takes on a routine swerve around the yellow towards a red over the far corner pocket, to win the frame, but he misses the red entirely! That was unexpected. Carter, though, wastes the chance, missing the pink and allowing O’Sullivan back to the table, who makes no mistake this time.
This was a scrappy, nervy frame, but O’Sullivan has got over the line and they are back level once more.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
21:01 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan does just that, cutting a red into the right middle from baulk and leaving himself on the yellow. His next red is wonderful, a jabby cut across the table which leaves him on the black, but then he runs out of position trying to develop the remaining cluster of reds and he is forced to play safe once more. O’Sullivan leads this frame 53-1 but there are still 67 points on the table.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
20:58 , Lawrence Ostlere
Now then. Carter leaves a red over the right middle pocket and goes back to his chair, shaking his head. Somehow, though, O’Sullivan misses it, and Carter has a lifeline here! He plays a good safety, and O’Sullivan is going to need to get that miss out of mind and on this safety battle.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
20:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan cleans up the reds and the black lurking at the wrong end of the table, and suddenly he’s got a very tidy-looking table on which to compose something. But, as I write, he loses control of the cue ball trying to go from blue to red, and he has to play safe.
O’Sullivan leads 42-1 as Carter returns to the table. Plenty of snooker still in this frame, potentially.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
20:51 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter decides to end the safety battle by taking on an all-or-nothing red into the middle, but it’s tough and he clips the near jaw, leaving O’Sullivan with a simple red into the green pocket. O’Sullivan can build a break here but it won’t be easy, with the black up near the baulk cushion along with a couple of reds too.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
20:49 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan has the first sight of a pot with a red into the middle pocket, but it’s an awkward one and the red bounces off the far jaw. Carter pots a red into the yellow pocket but does so with caution, and he then plays safe by knocking the black to the other end of the table.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
20:43 , Lawrence Ostlere
This is turning into a classic Masters final. Carter breaks off in frame 14.
Carter wins frame 13! Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-7 (19) Ali Carter
20:42 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter knocks in a magnificent 127 to not only clinch the frame but break O’Sullivan’s record of eight tons in a single Masters tournament with his ninth of the week. More importantly, he’s back in front in this final and needs only three more frames to win the title.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:37 , Lawrence Ostlere
This is a beautifully composed break by Carter, who has had to play a couple of innovative shots including a very thin cut on the black, but has kept it alive. Another black brings up the half-century, and the reds are now well placed to clinch the frame, with another three needed.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:33 , Lawrence Ostlere
A few minutes into this frame and still no points on the board, as they swap safeties, until Carter rolls in a wonderful red into the middle pocket, dead weight, after O’Sullivan had left the cue ball in baulk. Carter earns the first break-building opportunity after the interval.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:28 , Lawrence Ostlere
The players return to the table to loud roars. It’s O’Sullivan to break.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:22 , Lawrence Ostlere
Some images from this evening’s play:
Ronnie O’Sullivan arrives for the evening session (AFP via Getty Images)
Ali Carter pots a red (Getty Images)
England midfielder James Maddison in the crowd (PA)
O’Sullivan in action during the evening session (Getty Images)
O’Sullivan wins frame 12! Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:10 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan is putting on a highly professional job in this evening session. No more playing around or reckless attacking, he’s here to win. Carter needs to regroup in the interval because that was a bit of a whirlwind: three frames rattled off in 37 minutes.
It’s all square.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:08 , Lawrence Ostlere
Not this time! O’Sullivan misses a red along the baulk rail, and Carter comes back to the table chasing a 64-point deficit with 75 left on the table. However, Carter can’t take his chance, and O’Sullivan makes no mistake with his next visit.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:04 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan splits the pack and keeps the break alive with a long red into the yellow pocket, which had the crowd cheering long before it dropped. The balls are spread beautifully and he already has 50 on the board. We know how this situation normally ends…
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-6 (19) Ali Carter
20:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter offers another ragged break which sends a red up towards the blue, and O’Sullivan punishes him with a thin cut into the middle pocket. He fires in the brown and sends the cue ball around the angles to be on a red by the black. Great cue power.
O’Sullivan wins frame 11! Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:59 , Lawrence Ostlere
A brilliant long red wins the safety battle for O’Sullivan, and he sees off the final reds to clinch another frame.
What a final we have now!
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:54 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan puts on 41 points before leaving himself a tricky spotted blue into the left middle pocket from the right cushion. He misses by a fair margin, and some of the crowd roar Carter’s name. Carter responds by sinking a tough, mid-length red into the middle – fantastic pot. He’s in now, although the reds remains horribly laid out with four spread along the top cushion in a line. He manages 21 points before playing safe.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:49 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan’s pressure finally brings a mistake from Carter, who leaves the white in the middle of the table. O’Sullivan pots the first frame of the red with the help of the rest. After all that safety, though, the reds are clustered trickily around the black and this break won’t be easy to compile.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:47 , Lawrence Ostlere
This match is certainly more tactical this evening than it was in the afternoon. O’Sullivan, in particular, appears to have shifted down just a notch from his all-out attacking snooker, and he’s put Carter in a bit of bother at the start of this still-scoreless frame, with few safe routes back to baulk. Carter plays a well-executed drop on to the top cushion, and O’Sullivan responds by rolling the cue ball back up to baulk for round two.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:42 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan begins frame 11 with a near perfect break, and Carter responds by bouncing the cue ball gently off the top cushion and nestling into the pack. A safety exchange ensues.
O’Sullivan wins frame 10! Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:39 , Lawrence Ostlere
The seated Carter had a little frosty exchange with a couple of fans next to him who were shouting out for O’Sullivan, there. There is some heat and some tension in the air at Alexandra Palace.
On the table, O’Sullivan wraps up the frame, and he’s back to two behind.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:37 , Lawrence Ostlere
This is O’Sullivan at his flowing best, effortlessly charting a route around the table to put a half-century on the board. That is, until he gets a little unlucky try to split the bunch and runs out of options. He plays safe, Carter then leaves a long pot, and O’Sullivan puts it away. He sends the cue ball around the angles to baulk and snookers Carter, who fires a hit and hope down the table. It leaves O’Sullivan with a frame-winning chance, but a difficult one, into the right middle, and the seven-time Masters champion buries it.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:31 , Lawrence Ostlere
The perfect start to the 10th frame by O’Sullivan, responding to Carter’s slightly loose break with a dead-eye long pot. He rolls in the yellow, another red, the blue, and he’s down around the black spot where he can cause so much damage.
Carter wins frame nine! Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-6 (19) Ali Carter
19:28 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter does indeed mop up, taking the scrappiest frame of this final so far 71-39. A huge boost for the man chasing his first ever triple-crown title.
Carter leads 6-3, first to 10.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-5 (19) Ali Carter
19:26 , Lawrence Ostlere
There haven’t been many safety battles in this final so far, mainly owing to O’Sullivan’s attacking play, but they are embroiled in a critical one now. Carter has the slightest sniff of a pot with a long, fine cut-back into the yellow pocket, and he pulls it off! A great pressure pot, and this frame is Carter’s for the taking now.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-5 (19) Ali Carter
19:24 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan can’t quite flick out a red stuck against the left cushion, and he’s forced to play safe. Carter leads this frame 40-39, and there are two reds remaining. You sense that whoever pots the next red should win the frame.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-5 (19) Ali Carter
19:21 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter puts 40 points on the board before running out of position, and he gets unlucky with his safety shot, sending the cue ball up the rail and into the green pocket. O’Sullivan takes on a tough long pot from baulk and misses. Carter follows up with his own long miss, which doesn’t even hit the jaw it’s so far wide.
O’Sullivan has another go… and this time he puts a red away into the far corner to end the exchange of mistakes. The balls are all over the place though, and he has a 20-point deficit, so there’s a lot of work to do.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-5 (19) Ali Carter
19:16 , Lawrence Ostlere
This isn’t a straightforward opportunity for Carter. The pink is off its spot towards the left cushion, and the black is covered by reds nearby, so he’s having to use the blue to build a score. A good start though, with five reds and blues quickly down.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-5 (19) Ali Carter
19:14 , Lawrence Ostlere
Carter’s first shot of the night is a nervy one, as he fails to miss the thin clip on the pack that would have sent the cue ball back to baulk. Instead it bounces off the top cushion and into the pack. O’Sullivan has a red on, which he puts away.
However, after a couple of reds and pinks, O’Sullivan loses position trying to open up the balls. His safety shot is sloppy and he leaves a red on in the middle pocket, which Carter sinks.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-5 (best of 19) Ali Carter
19:10 , Lawrence Ostlere
Here we go then. The two players emerge down steep staircases to the centre of this Alexandra Palace stage to music. The crowd are giddy. O’Sullivan will break.
Steve Davis: ‘Carter is the most fluent player in the game’
19:08 , Lawrence Ostlere
Steve Davis questions Ronnie O’Sullivan’s very attacking approach to this final. “The problem with that open a play is you can leave yourself open to the counter-punch. Ali Carter is the most rhythmic and fluent player in the game right now.”
Will Ronnie change his approach?
“No, I think it’s a gameplan. Can that gameplan pay off?”
Ali Carter leads 5-3 after stunning display of break-building
18:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Both players produced some high-paced snooker in this afternoon’s opening session, which was twiced stopped for medical emergencies in the crowd. Carter took the first frame before O’Sullivan responded with a rapid century and another quick frame to lead 2-1. Carter, though, went into the mini-break with the scores level after producing his first century of the final with a magical 125.
O’Sullivan’s attacking approach proved both a blessing and a curse, as he let in Carter for a scoring opportunity in the fifth frame, who made no mistake with another fabulous century to lead 3-2. They shared the next two frames, before the crucial final frame of the afternoon went the way of Carter, to take a 5-3 lead into the evening in this race to 10.
Ronnie O’Sullivan in action against Ali Carter during the Masters final (Getty Images)
Masters snooker prize money
18:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
A reminder of what they are playing for tonight: they have both secured £100,000 but the winning will take home another £150,000 on top of that. The highest break looks set to go to Mark Allen after his wonderful 147.
Winner: £250,000
Runner-up: £100,000
Semi-finals: £60,000
Quarter-finals: £30,000
First round: £15,000
Highest break prize: £15,000
Total prize pot: £725,000
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter like to beat each other
18:40 , Lawrence Ostlere
These two have history. You may remember some cross words shared around past encounters, and that infamous shoulder barge…
O’Sullivan speaks out against Alexandra Palace venue
18:30 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan has been in typically outspoken mood and it came after he had bemoaned his standard and the “disgusting” Alexandra Palace venue after Thursday’s last-eight success over Barry Hawkins.
“I just don’t like this place. I find it disgusting,” he said. “Everywhere is dirty. It’s cold. It’s freezing, I have to wear my coat everywhere. You go through car parks. There are bins. Honestly, it just makes me feel ill.”
Revisited: Ronnie O’Sullivan calls out younger players after cruising into Masters final
18:20 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan stormed into a 14th Masters final with a 6-2 win over Shaun Murphy yesterday, and then called on snooker’s young pretenders to up their game.
The 48-year-old moved one victory away from becoming the oldest winner of this Triple Crown event with four half-century breaks, which were enough to down old rival Murphy in their first meeting for five years. Murphy reeled off two superb three-figure breaks, including 131 in the third frame, but O’Sullivan’s cavalier approach paid dividends with reds aplenty potted in this semi-final to delight a packed Alexandra Palace crowd.
“I don’t feel that old,” O’Sullivan, the youngest ever Masters winner, told BBC. “I know my age but I feel young in my mind and I feel young when I am around the table. I feel a lot younger round the table than I do when I play these young players. They look old! Their brains are quite slow so, for me, I feel like my brain is pretty quick around the snooker table, which is enough.
“Yeah, they need to get their act together because I am going blind, I have a dodgy arm and bad knees. And they still can’t beat me!”
Ronnie O’Sullivan calls out younger players after cruising into Masters final
O’Sullivan producing exhibition snooker at Ally Pally
18:15 , Lawrence Ostlere
O’Sullivan has been playing some magical stuff too, of course. This double en route to clinching his semi-final victory over Shaun Murphy was just something else…
Revisited: How Carter stunned Trump and Allen to reach final
18:08 , Lawrence Ostlere
Defending Masters champion Judd Trump was knocked out by Ali Carter after a thrilling quarter-final which went down to the wire.
Carter was losing 5-4 and facing an exit in the 10th frame only for his opponent to over-cut the match-ball red, allowing the 44-year-old to seize his chance and produce a 43 clearance to take it to a decider. Boosted by that momentum a break of 64 then saw Carter, who had been 4-2 up only for Trump to fight back with a break of 129 on his way to winning three frames in succession, through to only his second Masters semi in 13 attempts.
“For all the money, I looked like going 5-3 in front and lost my composure for a couple of frames,” Carter said in his post-match interview. “I felt like I worked really hard but was delighted to make an unbelievable clearance to force a decider. Then how I’ve held myself together there, I don’t know – that’s a feather in my cap.”
Ali Carter has been in stunning form this week (PA)
Carter then saw off Mark Allen 6-3 in yesterday’s semi-final, with three back-to-back centuries blowing away his opponent.
“I really got it going in the middle there and felt really good and Mark showed what a great player he is with a good ton,” Carter told the BBC after his win. “I held it together well and I am delighted to have a crack at The Rocket [in the final].”
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ali Carter: Masters final LIVE
17:58 , Lawrence Ostlere
Ali Carter is playing the snooker of his life right now. The 44-year-old has once before reached the Masters final, losing to Stuart Bingham in 2020, but has a real chance of finally winning the crown tonight. His performances have been composed and controlled, with a spell over the cue ball at times to compile measured centuries and deal quick, hard blows to his opponents.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s attacking snooker has opened up chances for Carter, and he has, on the whole, taken them ruthlessly.
Ronnie O’Sullivan looks on as Ali Carter takes to the table during the Masters final (Getty Images)
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ali Carter: Masters final LIVE
17:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
Welcome along to live coverage of the 2024 Masters final, as Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on Ali Carter at Alexandra Palace.
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ali Carter: Masters final LIVE
14:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
After a thrilling afternoon session, which we will come to shortly, the evening’s finale will begin at around 7pm GMT.