Ali outrage
This evening Ali Carter may never have a better chance to win one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.
Though, of course, that is easier said than done given that he is up against the best player in the modern-day era to wield a snooker cue in anger.
Someone who could easily rattle off eight frames in a row without a drip of sweat coming off his brow.
Carter came here with a disadvantage in that he had played late on Saturday night against Mark Allen while Ronnie O’Sullivan was eating dinner and relaxing after taking care of Shaun Murphy.
Carter made that point after his quarter-final win over Judd Trump on Friday, saying that he did not want to spend hours doing post-match media.
He would rather go straight back to his hotel and take it easy.
And can you blame him with that stubborn attitude? There is £250,000 on the line.
And the chance to see his name engraved on the Paul Hunter Trophy.
Carter collapses
In the months before the world shutdown for the Covid pandemic, Ali Carter reached the 2020 Masters final.
In that showpiece occasion, Carter was 7-5 ahead of Stuart Bingham, having won the opening four frames of that evening session.
Yet he ended up losing 10-8 to Bull Run and he walked away from that contest fearing he may never ever lift a Big One.
In his past two appearances in the final of a Triple Crown tournament – at the 2008 and 2012 Worlds in Sheffield – he was humbled by O’Sullivan.
Greetings from Ally Pally, welcome to the final session of the 2024 Masters.
Play is set to start just after 7pm in front of a sell-out crowd of 2,100.
There will be a minimum of five frames and a maximum of 11.
Ali Carter has eight centuries from four matches in the tournament.
One more ton tonight – and he is in decent form – would be a record for a single Masters.
Should he survive any Rocket-fuelled comeback, then it would represent the biggest moment of his sporting life.
Carter holds the cards
Ali Carter has his nose in front.
The Captain is in the driving seat, however if anyone can rattle off a few quick frames and turn this match on its head it’s Rocket Ronnie.
Can O’Sullivan become the youngest and oldest winner of the Masters?