Ronnie O'Sullivan earns Ali Carter praise after rare defeat to old Essex foe at German Masters - 'He is the best snooker player of all time'

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Ali Carter enjoyed only his second career victory over old Essex rival Ronnie O'Sullivan as the two-time German Masters champion completed a 5-3 win over the snooker GOAT in the last 32. Carter will take on Xu Si on Thursday afternoon for a quarter-final spot after Xu stunned Mark Selby 5-4. It was a day of shocks with world champion Zhao Xintong losing 5-3 to Tom Ford.

Bizarre moment as O'Sullivan accidentally flings red off the table against Carter

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ali Carter completed his first win over Ronnie O'Sullivan since their infamous 'shoulder barge' Crucible clash in 2018, courtesy of a 5-3 victory in the last 32 of the German Masters in Berlin.

It was only his second career victory over O'Sullivan, who leads the head-to-head 20-2.

Their first meeting came back at the 2001 UK Championship, which saw the now-seven-time world champion complete a 9-2 filleting of his old Essex foe.

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With Xu Si defeating Mark Selby 5-4 on Wednesday, the draw has opened up for Carter, who is chasing a third triumph at the Tempodrom ahead of his meeting with Xu, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, on Thursday afternoon at 14:00 UK time.

"Me and Ronnie have known each other a long time," Carter told reporters. "He's a character, isn't he?

"We are fine now, there is no animosity at all. It is all heat of the moment stuff between two sportsmen, and he is the best snooker player of all-time.

"It is great to be on the table with him and competing. Getting the odd win over him is a feather in my cap."

Carter, champion in 2013 and 2023, moved 3-0 clear of O'Sullivan with breaks of 128 and 68.

The 2012 German Masters winner then restored parity at 3-3 boosted by a 93 run in the fourth frame.

Both men had chances in the final two frames, but it was Carter who kept his composure to secure his progress.

On a day of shocks in the German capital, Mark Williams lost 5-3 to Jimmy Robertson, while Tom Ford reeled off the final four frames in a 5-3 win over world champion Zhao Xintong.

Elsewhere, Zhang Anda produced a record-extending 22nd maximum of the season in the first frame of 5-2 win over Barry Hawkins

Zhang lights up German Masters with exquisite 147 against Hawkins

Video credit: TNT Sports

He set up a meeting with defending champion Kyren Wilson in the last 16 on Thursday morning at 9am.

"Making a maximum at the German Masters is really special, and doing it in the opening frame makes it even better," said Zhang, who also made a 147 against Ding Junhui in July.

"To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about a maximum in the early part of the break. It only came into my mind later on.

"I think the crowd already realised what I was trying to do. The atmosphere was fantastic. I really enjoyed that moment."

Snooker's record maximum men in 2025/26

22. January 29, 2026, Zhang Anda v Barry Hawkins (German Masters)
21. January 23, 2026, Zhao Xintong v Jak Jones (Championship League)
20. January 22, 2026, Wu Yize v Oliver Lines (Championship League)
19. January 22, 2026, Xiao Guodong v Oliver Lines (Championship League)
18. January 8, 2026, Matthew Selt v Xiao Guodong (Championship League)
17. January 2, 2026, Chris Wakelin v Pang Junxu (Championship League)
16. November 24, 2025 Chang Bingyu v Stephen Maguire (UK Championship)
15. November 22, 2025 Liam Pullen v Kaylan Patel (UK Championship)
14. November 4, 2025 Zak Surety v Aaron Hill (International Championship)
13. October 7, 2025: Aaron Hill v Huang Jiahao (Xi'an Grand Prix)
12. October 7, 2025: Judd Trump v Ng On Yee (Xi'an Grand Prix)
11. October 2, 2025 Gary Wilson v Artemijs Zizins (International Championship)
10. September 17, 2025: Ali Carter v Aaron Hill (English Open)
9. September 14, 2025: Aaron Hill v Yao Pengcheng (English Open)
8. September 2, 2025: Zhou Yuelong v Julien Leclercq (Xi'an Grand Prix)
7. August 25, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Pang Junxu (Wuhan Open)
6. August 24, 2025: Xiao Guodong v Mink Nutcharut (Wuhan Open)
5. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
4. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
3. August 10, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Jordan Brown (Saudi Arabia Masters)
2. July 29, 2025: Zhang Anda v Ding Junhui (Shanghai Masters)
1. July 17, 2025: Fan Zhengyi v Xu Si (Championship League)

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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the German Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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