RONNIE O'SULLIVAN said that he would treat himself to a Chinese takeaway after his long-awaited snooker comeback.
One hundred and three days after snapping his cue in anger, , 49, finally returned to the match table for a record-extending 33rd appearance at the .
The Grudge Match with arch-enemy did not explode into life like previous baize clashes.
This was one of handshakes and headshakes – and far removed as possible from the memorable .
The contest is wonderfully poised after the first session with O’Sullivan, 49, leading just 5-4 heading into Wednesday afternoon’s final session.
O’Sullivan dispelled rumours of stage fright on his return to the big stage, and said that he felt “a bit better than I thought”; after “four years”; of what he deems to be poor form.
O’Sullivan said: “Yeah, I feel alright, it’s pretty much what I expected.
“I was looking forward to it. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t nervous. I haven’t played for a while and the reason why I did stop was because it was so bad, even in practice.
“It just got to me a bit. I didn’t even expect much today. I thought if I could get a few frames over Ali, make it a little bit competitive, I would be happy with that.
“Were the wayward shots down to a new cue? No, just me. I have had four years of it to be honest with you, hitting the ball over the place.
“I have to try and stay in the moment, try to play my way through it.
“No plan. Just go home, relax, get some food and go again tomorrow. Probably Chinese.”;
But if O’Sullivan – tied on seven crowns with – reigns again in Sheffield, it will go down as a major accomplishment in British sporting history.
Six-time world champion said: “(Age) could be a big difference for Ronnie.
“If he were to win the World Championship this year, it would be his greatest ever achievement.
“Because he’s losing ground more so now than he did to the top players in the game.
“There are many players who’re capable of beating Ronnie O’Sullivan if he is now playing close to his best.
“Ronnie has to be foot to floor, hit the ground running, and even then he isn’t guaranteed to win the World Championship.
“And that’s talking about the classiest player we have ever seen on the planet. The margins are pretty small now.”;
O’Sullivan, who usually prefers fist-bumps for his greetings, made a point of offering the olive branch, stretching out his hand to the Captain as they sat down before frame one.
Despite their war of words in the past, the duo were on their best behaviour – it is a shame they were not producing their best snooker.
It was edgy and tense and there were times when Carter, who could start a row in an empty room, was simmering in his chair.
Though Carter, 45, won the opening frame, the world No.18 made too many mistakes and gifted O’Sullivan too much playing time.
Ronnie's switch
There is speculation that O’Sullivan is using a new titanium ferrule, which means he can aim directly at the potting angle, rather than allowing for side spin on the cue ball.
Whether or not he is, the genius has not gone, especially the way he can comfortably switch between his right and left hands.
O’Sullivan – involved in his first competitive match since January 9 – rattled in a 107 break in frame four, a record-extending 208th Crucible century.
When he qualified for a 21st Worlds appearance, Carter revealed he was in terrible agony due to a neck problem.
One minute he was having a coffee, the next “I literally couldn’t move my neck at all”;.
In spite of the pain, despite all the apprehension and errors, Carter doggedly did not let
O’Sullivan run away with this as he trailed 5-2.
And the two-time world championship finalist won the final two frames of the afternoon, hitting an impressive 107 in frame eight.
Former world No.1 O’Sullivan missed two long reds in the final frame and also fouled from a snooker as Carter cleaned up the colours to close the gap to one.
It is Game On this afternoon and you wonder how significant those last pots on Tuesday might be in the outcome.
Over on table two, No.10 seed Ding Junhui, 38, won his first Crucible match for five years as he curbed a stirring comeback from qualifier to triumph 10-7.
Essex lad Surety scored 104, 109, 136 and 110, becoming the first debutant in history to hit four centuries.
, the 2005 world champion, leads Welsh debutant Daniel Wells 7-2, which included a trick shot final black at the end of a 138 break.
