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

Ronnie O’Sullivan told Ali Carter he needed to ‘grow some balls’ in an explosive, expletive-laden tirade after the world number 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 “idiots” who “don’t have enough brains.”

He also claimed that O’Sullivan ‘sniffled’ on the ground, and the missile fired back furiously.

“He needs to get his bloody life in order,” O’Sullivan said. ‘I’m not going to beat around the bush anymore, with my toes on the eggshells around someone like that. He’s a nightmare.

Carter led by three frames, but could only score 51 points in the last four frames

O’Sullivan gave a middle-finger response as he engaged in his extraordinary tirade

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

‘I’ve said my piece, I don’t care. I’ve said it now, it’s done. You know what he is like, everyone knows what he is like.

‘He has problems. F*****g, why is he having problems with me? I do not have it. I don’t care, grow some balls. I don’t care about these snooker players, none of them.

“The more he gets into it, the more I punish him every damn time. He’s just digging a grave for himself. I don’t give a fuck. That’s all, I said my word.’

But O’Sullivan, 48, added: ‘He has a fight with me. He has problems, he needs to get his life in order, he needs to see a counselor or something. He has to sort it out because I haven’t spoken to him in twenty years.

‘I played with him when he was little and shared a lot of things with him.

“For him to come out and try to bully me like that, you know what? He can have one (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 Championships in Sheffield. O’Sullivan punched Carter in the ribs and snapped: “That’s because I’m Mr Angry.”

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

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

Carter described the crowd – very much on O’Sullivan’s side – as ‘idiots’

The bad blood between the pair boiled over at barge-gate at the 2018 World Championship

Tempers flared when Carter, 44, got into an argument with members of the public, who sometimes shouted as he was about to shoot.

Carter said, “A few things have happened that are going unnoticed. Well, they don’t go unnoticed: anyone with vision or a brain can see what’s going on.

“It’s honestly disgusting. Nobody wants to say anything, right? (O’Sullivan) sniffling all over the floor and stuff. I mean, it’s outrageous behavior from a top professional. If it’s swept under the rug, it’s not good for me.

“And there were some idiots in the crowd. It’s really incredible. It’s hard enough to beat him, but when you have people shouting and saying stupid things at important moments… my head wanted to be cut off.’