Northern Ireland Open snooker 2020: Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Carter to set up final with Judd Trump
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 22/11/2020 at 10:53 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan fought back to beat Ali Carter 6-3 to earn a spot in the final of the Northern Ireland Open. The two clashed at their last meeting at the 2018 World Championship and Carter took advantage of a lacklustre O'Sullivan before the break, but The Rocket was simply too good after the interval. Watch the final live on Eurosport 1, eurosport.co.uk or the Eurosport app from 12:45
Ronnie O'Sullivan grins
Image credit: Eurosport
Take advantage of our Black Friday Offer to make sure you don't miss a moment from the 2020 NI Open this week
Ronnie O'Sullivan is through to the final of the Northern Ireland Open after battling back to beat Ali Carter with five frames in a row on his way to a 6-3 win.
Carter took a 3-1 lead into the mid-session interval, but the Rocket was simply too good as he was at his imperious best after the break.
The two made headlines last time they met at the 2018 World Championship. O'Sullivan called Carter 'Mr Angry' and appeared to shoulder barge the player mid-frame on his way to a 13-9 defeat.
And while O'Sullivan denied that he ever apologised for the incident, there have been no such fireworks in this one.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/11/21/2940851-60372988-2560-1440.jpg)
Watch 'magnificent' O'Sullivan clinch victory to reach final
Carter made the perfect start after taking a marathon first frame. A break of 71 helped establish a firm lead, and while O'Sullivan took his time looking for the three required snookers, he was unable to find them after accidentally potting a red.
The two players exchanged errors and flukes in the second frame but neither took full advantage until O'Sullivan found his way through a crowded pack for a century to draw things level.
Carter took another long and tactical frame, and while O'Sullivan took to the table despite needing five snookers, a quick mistake saw Carter close things out to regain the lead.
O'Sullivan looked short on confidence in the fourth frame and made big mistakes on each of his visits to the table. Carter missed an easy red himself but after the Rocket failed to punish him, the underdog took a two-frame lead heading into the break.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/11/21/2940814-60372248-2560-1440.jpg)
O'Sullivan races to 'superb' century break against Carter
But the Rocket was completely rejuvenated after the interval and took a quick fifth set with a break of 78.
And in no time at all he was level as a quick break of 66 was enough to square things up and undo Carter’s hard work.
O’Sullivan was then at his imperious best as he took the lead, and doubled that lead less than 10 minutes later with the 8th frame of the match, limiting Carter to just 13 points in four frames.
And in no time at all he was level as a quick break of 66 was enough to square things up and undo Carter’s hard work.
O’Sullivan was then at his imperious best as he took the lead, and doubled that lead less than 10 minutes later with the 8th frame of the match, limiting Carter to just 13 points in four frames.
Carter looked set to pull one back, but O'Sullivan produced a simply spectacular clearance to snatch it away and take the match with five frames in a row.
He will go up against world number one Judd Trump, who beat David Grace 6-2 in the other semi-final on Saturday.
Watch the final live on Eurosport, eurosport.co.uk or the Eurosport app from 12:45
Scan me
Share this article
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2208.png)