RONNIE O'SULLIVAN and Ali Carter's rivalry has included two world championship finals and a tissue filled with SNOT!
And now The Rocket will take on The Captain in the on Tuesday.
The pair have plenty of history after O'Sullivan was accused of barging his opponent at the Crucible six years ago.
Then there was the infamous last year.
But while O'Sullivan's in the draw, his inclusion is not a given after missing NINE tournaments this season.
The 49-year-old has not played on the World Snooker Tour (WST) since January, when he withdrew from his Championship League group – and was so frustrated with his game that he snapped his cue after losing four of his five matches.
He subsequently missed and was a late withdrawal from the German Masters and the Welsh Open, while he pulled out of the Championship League after five matches.
Ronnie : “I’ll make a decision when I feel like I’m ready to make a decision. That will be it.
“I know I have nothing to prove. But I was getting to the point where I was scared to even go near a table.”
O'Sullivan is aiming to win a record eighth world title – he is tied for the most tournament wins with .
But if he decides to play next week, O'Sullivan has been tasked with overcoming his nemesis in Carter.
The Rocket has now won 23 of his 26 matches against Carter, including victories in the 2008 and 2012 World Championship finals.
But what's the history? Why don't the two get on? SunSport takes a look below.
Snotgate row
Perhaps the most bizarre argument in , or even in sporting , erupted last year in the Masters final.
Carteralleged O’Sullivan – like a long-distance runner might do – on to the carpet while sitting in his chair in the final frames of theMasters final in 2024.
The Captain claimed the sport’s greatest player was “snotting all over the floor”; and labelled it as “outrageous behaviour from a top professional”;.
In response, launched a furious X-rated rant, stuck up his middle finger in protest and stormed out of his press conference with family and friends trailing behind.
The seven-time world champion said: “He can sit on it as far as I’m concerned. I don’t give a f***.
“F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls. I don’t give a f***.
“The more he brings it on, the more I f***ing punish him every time. Absolutely. He’s just digging a grave for himself. He needs to sort his f***ing life out.”;
But admitted to having some revealing: “Maybe I should have been more diplomatic.”
He said in January, before withdrawing from this year's Masters: “It’s just heat of the moment stuff. If I feel like I’ve got to say something I’ll say it.
“Do I regret saying it? Probably.
“I wish I’d kept my mouth shut and been a bit more polished with my answers, a bit more diplomatic.
“But I’ve said what I’ve said and that’s fine. It’s only words innit?”;
had rallied from 6-3 down to beat Carter 10-7 and win a record-extending eighth Masters title on that day.
Rewind seven years
In an extraordinary turn of events, the pair met seven years ago and it got ugly.
Tensions were already running high in their second round clash after O'Sullivan pegged Carter back to 9-8 after his opponent led 8-3.
But Carter reestablished his lead, and was a snooker away from going within two frames of victory.
After fluking a shot, returned to his seat as Carter walked past him.
But, Ronnie left his shoulder out and gave Ali a barge before sitting down.
O'Sullivan aimed at Carter: “That’s for being Mr Angry. You shoulder barged me earlier, I thought I’d give you one back.
“Thank you, it’s very nice of you,”; Carter replied with a smile on his face.
“Stop being angry then,”; Ronnie continued before referee Paul Collier advises the pair calm down.
“Yeah, I'm cool,” Ronnie concluded. “Cool as a cucumber.”
, who also lost two world finals to O'Sullivan in 2008 and 2012, went on win the ill-tempered contest 13-9.
He celebrated with several fist pumps, showing exactly what it meant.
After the game, Carter told the BBC: “I’ve been intimidated by him in the past.
