Ali Carter is one of the more opinionated players on the World Snooker Tour and he’s discussed the recent World Championship won by Kyren Wilson.
The Kettering-born potter ended his lifelong wait for a world title when he beat Jak Jones back in May to lift the famous trophy.
Ali Carter was dumped out in the first round at the Crucible with qualifier Stephen Maguire taking a place in the second round at his expense.
A lot of the game’s big hitters suffered early exits and Carter has been discussing the title won by Wilson at the end of last season.
What Ali Carter has said about Kyren Wilson winning World Snooker Championship
Well, it would appear as though Carter does feel a little bit aggrieved at the run which Wilson had in Sheffield this year.
Wilson won the title after beating just one player inside the world’s top 16 – John Higgins – coming through games against Dominic Dale, Joe O’Connor, Dave Gilbert and Jones in the final.
Carter has reached two World Championship finals himself and lost them both to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
It’s fair to say that it does smart him a little bit that he’s not had a more comfortable passage to world glory – much like Wilson has.
He told Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips: “If you look at Kyren, he’s done brilliant to win the World Championships and I’m not taking anything away from him because he’s a lovely lad but he’s played one top 16 player.
“He beat John Higgins and that was it (in the top 16). You can only play what you’re up against and he took advantage and he won.
“Sometimes, if you look at myself, I’ve played the best player of all time twice in the final and he’s won one – brilliant – but he’s beat the player who is number 45 in the world in the final.”
Carter enjoying renaissance on the baize
The 44-year-old is now ranked number 10 in the world and from where he was that represents a strong turnaround.
Carter appears to be enjoying his snooker again and he will be bitterly disappointed that he couldn’t get further in the World Championship this year.
Snooker isn’t the young man’s game that it used to be years ago and Carter will be buoyed by some of the other players in his age bracket.
O’Sullivan, Mark Willians and John Higgins all remain in the top 16 of the world rankings and Carter will feel he can still be dangerous at certain events.
Winning a world title might escape Carter but if he can get a draw as kind as that which Wilson got, who knows…