Ronnie O’Sullivan launches into extraordinary X-rated rant at Ali Carter after beating old rival in Masters final

• Ronnie O’Sullivan clinched eighth Masters title at Alexandra Palace 
• The Rocket fought back from 6-3 down to beat Carter 10-7 in Sunday’s final
• The bad blood between the pair boiled over at the 2018 World Championship 

Ronnie O’Sullivan told Ali Carter to ‘grow some balls’ in an explosive, expletive-laden rant after the world No 1 claimed his record-extending eighth Masters crown.

O’Sullivan fought back from 6-3 down to beat Carter 10-7 in Sunday night’s final at Alexandra Palace.

Carter described the crowd — very much on O’Sullivan’s side — as ‘morons’ who ‘haven’t got enough brains’.

He also alleged that O’Sullivan ‘snotted’ on the floor, and the Rocket fired back ferociously.

‘He needs to sort his f****** life out,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘I’m not going to skirt around it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells around someone like that. He’s a f****** nightmare.

‘Playing snooker against someone like that is a nightmare. He’s not a nice person. It’s not a nice vibe he leaves around the table.

‘I’ve said my piece, I don’t give a s***. I’ve said it now, done. You know what he’s like, everybody knows what he’s like.

‘He’s got issues. F****** why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls. I don’t give a f*** about any of these snooker players, any of them.

‘The more he brings it on, the more I f****** punish him every time. He’s just digging a grave for himself. I don’t give a f***. That’s it, I’ve said my piece.’

But O’Sullivan, 48, added: ‘He’s got beef with me. He’s got issues, he’s got to sort his life out, he’s got to see a counsellor or something. He’s got to sort it out because I haven’t spoken to him for 20 years.

‘I played with him when he was a kid and shared a lot of stuff with him.

‘For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what? He can have one of them (a middle finger gesture), he can sit on it as far as I’m concerned.’

The bad blood between the pair boiled over at ‘barge-gate’ at the 2018 World Championship in Sheffield. O’Sullivan barged Carter in the ribs and snapped: ‘That’s for being Mr Angry’.

They exchanged words as Carter sealed a shock win in the last 16, one of only three in his 26 matches against O’Sullivan.

The seven-time world champion is currently locked in a disciplinary dispute with the game’s governing body for disparaging comments he made earlier this season and is likely to be fined for swearing in his final Masters press conference.

Tempers flared as Carter, 44, had an altercation with crowd members, who at times called out when he was on his shot.

Carter said: ‘There were a couple of things that happened out there that go unnoticed. Well, they don’t go unnoticed — anyone with an eyesight or a brain can see what’s going on.

‘It’s disgusting quite frankly. No one wants to say anything, do they? (O’Sullivan) snotting all over the floor and all that. I mean it’s outrageous behaviour from a top professional. If it gets swept under the carpet then for me, it’s not good.

‘And there were some morons in the crowd. It’s unbelievable really. It is hard enough to beat him, but when you have people shouting on your shot and saying stupid things at important times… my head wanted to come off.’