Bitter snooker rivals Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter face off for first time since ‘Snotgate’ row at Tour Championship

ALI CARTER will resume his rivalry with Snotgate nemesis Ronnie O’Sullivan on Wednesday.

The Captain knocked out Barry Hawkins 10-8 in the first round of the Tour Championship in Manchester.

AlamyAli Carter will face rival Ronnie O’Sullivan today (Wednesday) at the Tour Championship[/caption]

GettyCarter lasted faced O’Sullivan in January and accused him of ‘snotting all over the floor’[/caption]

Yet he had to hold his nerve in the evening session, despite being 7-1 and then 9-5 up, as The Hawk mounted a spirited and late fightback.

The victory now pits him against the Rocket over two sessions on Wednesday, with the quarter-final clash played to a conclusion in the evening.

Essex boys O’Sullivan and Carter have not met across a snooker table since the infamous Masters final on January 14.

The world No.1 won that clash 10-7 at Ally Pally but afterwards he was accused by the Colchester cueist of “snotting all over the floor”.

Carter alleged the seven-time world champion violently cleared his nose while sitting in his chair in the final frames of the North London finale.

And the 44-year-old called it “disgusting” and “outrageous behaviour from a top professional”.

In response, the sport’s greatest player launched a furious tirade, saying the world No.9 “needs to sort his f***ing life out”.

O’Sullivan, 48, added: “He’s always going to find something. He’s got beef with me. He’s got issues.

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“He’s got to sort his life out. He’s got to see a counsellor or something.”

There is no love lost between the two – needle that goes back several years – and it promises to be Box Office viewing in the last eight of the penultimate event on the snooker calendar.

Carter said: “I’m delighted to get over the line. It got a bit sticky. It’s not won until you get to ten.

“My head was over the place but I have controlled my temperament this season. Coming through that game is a feather in my cap.

“I relish the challenge of facing Ronnie. He’s the best player ever to pick up a cue.

“Playing him in another quarter-final. I have played him in a final this year. I’m in the right place, it’s a great practice match for the World Championship.

“Coming here, all I wanted to do was get as many best-of-19 frames in the bank. What better match than to play Ronnie, the greatest player of all time?

“I am under absolutely no pressure. Only the pressure I put on myself to perform. I have put the work in, my preparation has been good, we will see what happens.”