World Championship - Captain Ali Carter Massive Turnaround on Judd Trump

World Snooker Championship Day 10: The Captain Ali Carter made a massive turnaround on Judd Trump, winning 13-12 from 9-12 down to reach quarter-finals.

Captain Ali's massive turnaround

Ali Carter did not enjoy a good season this year due to his Crohn's disease. Having only reached one quarter-finals this season, Carter came to the Crucible with a good form. He won his first round match, beating Mark Davis by 10-2 to meet Judd Trump. However, Carter fell 7-9 down behind after second session. I believe not many people could believe The Captain would make a comeback.


The first four frames of the final session were shared between Trump and Carter. Trump went for 147 in frame 19 but he broken down on the 13th red. After the mid interval, Trump added another frame on the scoreboard, setting to reach quarter-finals for the second consecutive years, leading Carter by 12-9.

Judd Trump and Ali Carter

Fearless Carter tried maximum in the next frame but he ran out of position on 81. He found himself back into the match, winning the next two frames with a top break of 53 to level 12-12 against Trump, forcing a decider. The UK Champion had two good chances to score in the decider but missed the opportunity on easy balls. Carter made 47 to go 48 points ahead, with one red left on the table only.


Never-give-up Trump got three out of the four snookers he needed but The Essex man finally potted the last red to secure the thrilling victory. The Captain clinched his fist to celebrate the massive victory. Trump is gracious in defeat, "If I was fully fit then I would expect to play a lot better but I just tried to play the best I could in the conditions. He played better, he was more mentally ready and I struggled," he said. 

Trump struggled in the last few frames

"I knew I was hitting the ball well, at 12-9 I thought just get to 12-10 and he knows I'm there," said Carter. "I played some solid match snooker at 12-11 and that's all it takes. Judd just pots them from everywhere but there's more to this game than just potting them from everywhere believe me, and I've proved that today.'' "Now he (Trump) can feel what it feels like to have a nasty scar in your career. He was in it to win it but so am I."

Ali Carter will face Jamie Jones next in the quarter-finals, who saw off Andrew Higginson by 13-10. Higginson won four in a row to level 10-10 from 6-10 down but the 24-year-old held it off to win with runs of 135 and 50. Jones said, "With qualifying it is four long matches I have played now but I still feel really fresh and I am looking forward to my next game. I have played against Carter once before and I won, so hopefully that's a good omen!''

Ronnie O'Sullivan blasted into the final eight with a 13-6 victory over Williams. "I haven't had an easy draw," said O'Sullivan, who is aiming for his fourth world title. "I think whoever wins this tournament will have to beat Neil Robertson and I've got to play him in the quarters so it's definitely not easy. But I'm a competitor, I'll always give it my best and we'll see."

Matthew Stevens

Matthew Stevens set up a all-Welsh quarter-finals match against Ryan Day after defeating Barry Hawkins 13-10. This is Steven's first quarter-finals in five years, "My last final here was seven years ago and I'm not getting any younger, but I still feel as if I can compete with the so-called top players, if I play my game and score heavily.''

World Snooker Championship 2012 Results/Live, Draw & Match/TV Schedule

World Championship - Superb Ronnie O'Sullivan Played His Best Snooker

World Snooker Championship Day 9: Ronnie O'Sullivan played his best snooker to go 11-5 up on Mark Williams, requiring two more frames to play Robertson in the final eight.

Ronnie O'Sullivan at his top form

The Rocket had a 5-3 lead on Mark Williams overnight. Williams had chance to win the first frame of the session but his mistakes put himself into the trouble. Ronnie had a blinking start of 107. He went on to take the following three frames before mid interval, with runs of 74, 51 and 68 to be 9-3 ahead of The Welshman.

The mini break did not cool The Rocket's hands. A dominating O'Sullivan played his best snooker to make it 11-3, with a marvellous break of 128 and a nearly century 93. The three-time World Champion could have a session to spare if he won the next two frames. Credits must be given to Mark Williams, who made 86 after losing nine frames in a row to guarantee the match would go to the final session. Williams took the final frame of session as well to trail 5-11 behind O'Sullivan.

Judd Trump

Last year's finalist Judd Trump found his way today to lead Ali Carter by 9-7 from 3-5 down. Unlike O'Sullivan v Williams match, there are more safety exchange but still a high-quality match to be watched. Trump won the opening frame with 120 to narrow the gap but The Captain missed the frame ball pink to regain two-frame advantage in the next frame. Nevertheless, Carter made 112 before Trump levelled off at mid interval.

Trump won the next two frames to go 8-6 up before Carter pulled one back with 54. Trump could not be stopped by Carter, 79 in the final frame of the session guaranteed himself to lead 9-7 overnight.

Crucible Debutant Jamie Jones is 10-6 ahead of Andrew Higginson, setting to reach the quarter-finals by winning three more frames tomorrow. Matthew Stevens and Barry Hawkins all squared at 8-8 after two sessions. 

 World Snooker Championship 2012 Results/Live, Draw & Match/TV Schedule

World Championship - Stephen Hendry Defeated Higgins To Move On

World Snooker Championship Day 8: Stephen Hendry defeated defending champion John Higgins to make quarter-finals.

Stephen Hendry reached his 18th Crucible Quarter-Finals

The seven-time World Champion took the frame he needed today with a break of 64 as he led Higgins by 12-4 after the two sessions of playing. Hendry won 13-4 and compiled his 18th Crucible quarter-finals. Hendry will play another fellow countryman, Stephen Maguire who had collected a 13-7 win over Joe Perry.


"Stephen Maguire looks very solid. He's hard to beat. Anything can happen from here on in. I love playing here. It's the best place to play snooker in. You've just got to try and take the chances given to you." Hendry said. "John's had a poor season by his standards. This place is hard, if you miss a few balls it's hard to get going.''

"I've gone into this season not doing the right things on or off the table. You only get out of life what you put in. This season I've not done the right things and I've not deserved anything out of the game. Next year I'm going to try and rectify that and come back a more focused player and a better prepared player.'' Higgins had won three titles last seaon but nothing this season. "Over my career I've been a bit of a winner and you don't like going through this, you've got to pick yourself up and try and win more tournaments, I got to prepare better for tournaments..

Ryan Day

Ryan Day defeated Chinese qualifier by 13-7 after a disappointing second session for him. Day's advantage reduced to two frames only as Cao won 5 frames out of 8 played during the second session, only trailing by 7-9 behind. The Welshman produced a fantastic final session, taking four frames he needed before mid interval to win the match with runs of 113, 53, 87 and 119. 

"I scored well, I started really well and kept the pressure on him this evening," said Day, who was 7-3 down to Gerard Greene in the final qualifying round but hit back to win 10-8. "I was lucky enough to get some good scoring opportunities and of all the sessions I've played so far, I felt that that was the best.'' Day will face either Matthew Stevens or Barry Hawkins next, "It would be nice to play Matthew but me and Barry are good friends as well so let the best man win.   

Ronnie O'Sullivan stepped up to lead 5-3 after being 2-3 down on Mark Williams at the end of first session. Ali Carter had an two-frame advantage over Judd Trump overnight. Both matches resume at 2.30pm on Sunday.

 World Snooker Championship 2012 Results/Live, Draw & Match/TV Schedule