Ali Carter reflects on ‘Marmite’ image in snooker: ‘People don’t understand’

Ali Carter is aware he can be something of a Marmite figure in snooker, but says his intensity and emotion during matches is just because it means so much.

The Captain has been on the professional circuit for 30 years now and been one of the best players on the planet for most of that time.

He won his seventh ranking title earlier this month at the English Open, regaining a place in the world’s top 16 at the age of 47.

Carter has plenty of fans, especially in Brentwood where the Essex boy lifted that English Open title in front of home support, but he is aware he is not universally popular.

Partly that is down to his rivalry with Ronnie O’Sullivan, which put him on the wrong side of Rocket fans, of which there are plenty.

He also recognises that he is hardly a jovial presence round the table, but nor does he think it should be when so much is at stake.

Are you snooker loopy?

You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro.

In my newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week.

Sign up here.

On whether criticism and even abuse affects him, Carter told the Talking Snooker podcast: ‘Yeah I think so and when you do read comments, I suppose it goes into the subconscious or somewhere.

‘On some level I obviously take in on board. But I can genuinely say that anyone who ever meets me would probably say: “No, he’s alright”.’

How players come across during matches can be quite different to their character away from the table, which Carter feels is the case with him.

‘I think I’m obviously very intense and I show emotion and I set myself really high standards,’ he said. ‘Obviously I know how good I can be and when I don’t produce it for whatever reason I find it very frustrating because I am a perfectionist at whatever I do. That’s just my personality trait.

‘But what people don’t understand is that snooker has been my life. It shouldn’t do, but it defines how you feel as a person, it defines how you can live your life, it defines what house you live in, what car you drive, what holidays you go on, where you sit on the plane, everything.

‘Obviously the winning and the losing is a massive difference financially. You can’t just miss and go “oh alright, never mind.” If you were like that you’d never win anything, in my view. If that upsets people then sorry about that.’

Carter can let his frustrations get the better of him at times, when his temper flares, but is also known for great battling qualities.

That is especially relevant away from the table, where he has twice overcome cancer and sustained an epic career at the top of snooker despite Crohn’s disease.

‘I used to see an old doctor of mine, he’s dead now,’ recalled Carter. ‘I used to say, “If only I could be a bit calmer and a bit more relaxed.”

‘He said: “Ali, no, no, no. What you don’t realise is the way you are is your biggest strength, because if you aren’t that way then you’d never be where you are now.”

‘Maybe if I didn’t have my attitude and my character I wouldn’t have got though my illnesses and battles I’ve faced. I’ve won seven ranking events. Of all the snooker players in all the world, it’s not too bad is it?’

It is not too bad at all, with only 15 players in history winning more ranking titles than Carter’s seven.

The Captain will be looking to make it eight ranking titles at next week’s Shenzhen Open, where he faces Ding Junhui or Ricky Walden in his opener.

MORE: Top snooker stars have ‘massively unfair advantage,’ says Chris Wakelin

MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan handed Champion of Champions chance as qualifying routes added

MORE: WPBSA chairman admits concerns as players complain about World Snooker Tour events