Ronnie O'Sullivan's bid for a sixth world title ended in acrimony at the Crucible on Saturday as Ali Carter fought back to secure a 13-9 victory in their second-round match.
The flashpoint came in the 19th frame when O'Sullivan, who had just fluked a snooker, collided with Carter at the side of the table. The five-times champion then called his opponent "Mr Angry" and told him it was his turn to play, prompting Carter to respond and referee Paul Collier to intervene.
Carter, who has twice overcome cancer and suffers from Crohn's disease, said he was not intimidated by O'Sullivan, adding: "I've been through harder things than that in my life." O'Sullivan, 42, denied there was anything to apologise for, claiming Carter had also barged him. "If someone's going to shoulder-barge into me, do I have to walk around him, tiptoe or do a little curtsy as if he's the Queen?" he asked.
O'Sullivan, the title favourite, was off form for much of the contest, while Carter was clinical in closing out the win. Carter will face Mark Williams or Robert Milkins in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, John Higgins took an 8-0 lead over Jack Lisowski, Barry Hawkins beat Lyu Haotian 13-10, and Kyren Wilson defeated Jamie Jones 13-5.
