Snooker: Insults fly as Carter shades Trump in thriller

JUDD TRUMP: World No 2 and last year’s finalist at The Crucible lost concluding four frames to go out 13-12 (PA)

There were Twitter insults and sarcastic applause for a fluke as Ali Carter staged a storming, four-frame finishing burst to edge out Judd Trump 13-12 on the final frame, but last year's beaten finalist played down any rift with Carter after he slipped out of the Betfred.com World Championship here.

Trump led 12-9 and missed good chances to secure his quarter-final place despite Carter's remarkable rally. Amazingly, Trump nearly won the deciding frame having needed four snookers, but a poor safety shot let in Carter, who punched the air in delight in victory.

"Me and Ali have always got on, there's just a lot of pressure out there [in the arena]," Trump said. But the world No 2 was undeniably annoyed with Carter's post-match comments that he was a "one-dimensional" player and with Carter's sarcastic clapping at an important stage in the final session after Trump fluked a snooker.

"If he wants to do that [clap], then that's up to him. He's 30-odd years old and it's childish," Trump said. "I haven't got a clue, really, what he's talking about [about being a one-dimensional player]. I'm still a lot younger than him and have done a lot better, so let's just let the snooker do the talking."

In a high-quality match both men missed out on 147s after setting up chances. Trump ran out of position on a break of 96 in the 19th frame, having potted 12 reds and 12 blacks, while Carter – who has one maximum here – missed an 11th successive red on a break of 81.

Carter was later equally keen to play down any ill-feeling despite the trading of now-deleted insults on Twitter after the penultimate session, which Trump took 6-2. Carter accused him of being "fluky and lucky", Trump retorting with "attitude".

"There's more to this game than just potting them from everywhere, believe me – and I've proved that," Carter said. "He can see what it feels like to have a nasty scar in your career, because it's not easy to get over."

Ronnie O'Sullivan wasted no time in booking his quarter-final place with a 13-6 win over Mark Williams. O'Sullivan resumed with a 11-5 overnight lead and now plays Australian Neil Robertson, the 2010 winner here. Matthew Stevens booked his quarter-final place with a 13-11 win over Barry Hawkins.