More from Carter
Ali Carter has likened himself to a “wily old fox” following his run to the Shanghai Masters final.
He said: “I love Shanghai. I love the city. I won it when it was a ranking event.
“I’d love to win it again. Whether I play Kyren Wilson, who is growing in confidence year-after-year, a great player – or the current world champion and everyone’s favourite in China.
“I’m like the wily old fox, aren’t I? I’ll turn up and see if I can upset the apple cart.
“In 2010, it was a great victory. All I can remember was enjoying myself a bit too much on the plane.
“Me and Shaun Murphy met in the Clubhouse at Terminal 3 Heathrow
“We had a few too many drinks before we got on the plane. Then we were fortunate to be near the front of the plane, so we had a few more.
“It tops up. I got to Shanghai. I didn’t leave my room for two weeks because I was ill.
“Then the next thing I know, I’ve picked up the trophy and prize money. Perfect preparation!”
Carter ecstatic
Ali Carter is still coming to grips with his incredible run to the Shanghai Masters final.
He said: ” “It’s just surreal, isn’t it? When you don’t take it too seriously.
“I always want to win, whether I want to play someone at table tennis. But I was just out there competing.
“Listen, when I have been four frames behind or need four frames to win at 8-6 down and 6-2 down twice, I’m ready to go home.
“I’m looking at moving my flight forward. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes you can have all the positive things said to you.
“The secret is not to think about anything. Just turn up and play. Whatever happens, happens.
“Really I shouldn’t even be here now. If Mark Allen doesn’t withdraw – I hope he is okay by the way – and I’m 40 points behind to Williams at 5-2 down.
“I’m looking at my watch thinking, well I could get the midnight flight here. All of a sudden, I have won and I’m in the final. Happy days.”
Carter’s shock admission
Ali Carter has revealed he was looking forward to GOING HOME before securing a spot in the Shanghai Masters with victory over Lee Selby.
He said: “At 8-6 down he [Selby] missed a blue and it gave me a glimmer of hope,” said Carter.
“It was very pleasing to get over the line with a one visit. I’ve been 5-2 down twice and 8-6 here.
“I’ve been looking to go home and move my flight forward. I shouldn’t be here now really.”
Carter opens up on Ronnie defeat
Ali Carter has revealed he had “a lot going on” in his life when he was dumped out of this year’s World Snooker Championship by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
He told The Metro: “It was a big game, to be honest, I’ve had a lot going on behind the scenes, family stuff, and it was probably a game I didn’t need.
“When I drew Ronnie, I was like, ‘Oh f***ing hell.’ But he was good as gold. It’s fine between me and him now, but it was the draw no one wanted, wasn’t it?
“And despite what people say, in the second half of the match he was unbelievable.
“I missed the boat in the first half really due to not quite being on it and then he got stronger.”
Wilson talks Ronnie win
Kyren Wilson was over the moon with his thumping of snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan in Shanghai.
The Kettring cueist said: “It’s always nice to play in a good style. Obviously I scored very heavily.
“At 2-2, it could have been 4-0 to either player, it went really close. When I got 70 in front, Ronnie roared back, got snookers, fought really hard.
“I went to the practice room at the break. It was a case of resetting and coming out firing – and I did that.
“This feels like it is the showpiece Chinese event nowadays. Similar to the London Masters. The best players in the world here.
“It inspires you and when you go out to a packed audience, it felt like it was Box Office on both tables.
“The two highest-ranked and popular Chinese players were on one table. And the greatest of all time against an in-form player was on the other. It definitely gave the crowd value for money.”
Selby’s praise for Trump
Mark Selby was full of class after beating World No.1 Judd Trump
He said: “Overall, I felt like I played OK. A few loose safety shots here and there, but over a best of 11, you can’t really be too critical. That’s going to happen.
“But I took my chances more times than not. And I knew that I had to do that before the game because Judd scores as well as anyone.
“And for me, he’s the best player in the world and has been for, I don’t know, three or four years. So it was a great win for me.”
