Ronnie O’Sullivan is in danger of suffering a second round exit in this year’s World Championship after he trailed overnight to a determined Ali Carter.

Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

Carter just needs four more frames to knock the five-times world champion out of snooker’s biggest competition after a dominant display today at the Crucible saw him earn an overnight 9-7 lead.

The pair have met in two World Championship finals and this match looks set to be a another cracker with it all to play for going into Saturday afternoon’s final session.

Carter had led 8-3 and 9-5 but two quick-fire breaks from O’Sullivan saw the match tighten up and set up a cracking finale.

O’Sullivan was not at his best throughout and Carter punished him on several occasions with a great display of attacking snooker.

But the world number two sent out at a warning to Carter late on as he reduced his arrears.

O’Sullivan came back from behind to beat Stephen Maguire in the first round and could do so again to make into the quarter-finals.