• World Snooker Championship

Carter wins Trump thriller as O'Sullivan ousts Williams

Ali Carter narrowly escaped against Judd Trump © Getty Images

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Ali Carter booked his place in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship on Monday after an almighty scare against Judd Trump, and he was later joined by Ronnie O'Sullivan.

In a remarkable match at the Crucible, Carter - who this season suffered the return of the debilitating Crohn's disease - came back from 12-9 down to level the scores at 12-12 in the best-of-25-frames encounter. He then emphatically pumped his fist in the final frame after leaving his opponent needing four snookers to have any chance of winning.

Trump, the 2011 runner-up in this event, had different ideas, however - as he embarked on a run of sparkling safety play that saw him pick up three of the four snookers required from a visibly shell-shocked Carter.

The youngster earned a reprieve when Carter rattled the jaws with a long pot on the remaining red on the table but, after another opening was presented to the 32-year-old, Carter made no mistake - rolling in a few more balls just to be safe and finally, unequivocally secure victory in the last-16 match.

O'Sullivan had few issues seeing off public enemy No. 1 Mark Williams, whom he led 11-5 heading into the evening season. Williams had angered fans by labelling The Crucible a "s***hole" earlier in the week, and there were few on his side as O'Sullivan swept to a 13-6 victory.

Requiring two frames for the win, O'Sullivan wasted little time in knocking them off as he chalked up a 66 for 12-5. Williams responded in the next, but it only delayed the inevitable as a 65 from O'Sullivan sent him into a last-eight clash with Neil Robertson.

Elsewhere, Matthew Stevens won a nervy contest against Barry Hawkins - eventually winning 13-11 after a competitive encounter. A break in the 24th frame of 57 proved the difference for the Welshman, as he gratefully clambered across the finish line to move into the last eight.

And Jamie Jones of Wales will also feature in the quarters after he completed a 13-10 win over Andrew Higginson. Jones will now meet Carter in the next round.

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