Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter have been embroiled in a war of words following last weekend’s Masters final (Picture: Getty)
Alan McManus has hinted at the real reason behind the simmering rivalry between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter.
The pair clashed in a heated Masters final on Sunday, which eventually saw the world No.1 overturn a three-frame deficit to claim an historic 10-7 triumph.
O’Sullivan’s latest landmark victory has been marred, however, by the toxic fallout which has seen both players trade insults.
The Rocket accused Carter of lacking the bottle to finish the job and claim what would have been the first triple crown title of his distinguished career.
He subsequently told Carter to sort his life out in another stinging attack after he’d been informed The Captain had accused him of snorting on the floor of the Alexandra Palace arena.
Ahead of his match at this afternoon’s World Grand Prix, Carter ratcheted up the tension still further by claiming his long-time rival ‘wasn’t well mentally’ and O’Sullivan is likely to bite back again following his match this evening.
While plenty has been written about the growing animosity between the pair, which had previously reached it’s zenith following the infamous barging incident at the 2018 World Championships, no definitive reason has been given for the needle that exists between the two.
Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed Ali Carter lacked the bottle to beat him (Picture: Getty)
Ronnie O’Sullivan told Ali Carter to sort his life out (Picture: Getty)
Speaking on ITV, former Masters champion McManus did give some insight into the potential reason for the fallout which is currently dominating the sport.
‘Tensions were running high, it’s a very hot atmosphere in Ally Pally, myself and Ken were obviously there,’ said McManus.
‘Tensions can boil over, there is history there. They’re from the same neck of the woods and they’ve kind of grown up together.
Ali Carter blew a three-frame lead in the Masters final (Picture: Getty)
‘Ronnie I think took Ali under his wing in some way a number of years ago and he felt a bit wronged… on both sides of it.
‘But is shows the importance and the tension that goes on in these events.’
Fellow pundit Ken Doherty added: ‘There’s history behind it with the shoulder barge at the world championships, it goes from there.
‘It’s bad blood and he was reacting to what Ali said in the press conference as well.
‘I’m sure World Snooker will look at it, review it and see what happens. But not good headlines really.’
MORE : Ali Carter responds to Ronnie O’Sullivan: ‘I don’t think he’s that well, mentally’
MORE : Ronnie O’Sullivan regrets ‘stupid’ comments made ahead of latest Masters title
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The pair do not see eye to eye.