Ali Carter was ecstatic to claim a seventh career ranking crown after he beat Mark Williams 9-6 to win the 2026 English Open title on Sunday.
In front of his home fans in Essex, Carter produced a strong second session to fight his way back from 5-3 down and beat the legendary Welshman.
A high-quality opening to the final saw the pair trade three century breaks between them in the opening five frames, but Williams then won two close frames at the end of the afternoon’s exchange to seemingly forge an advantage.
The three-time world champion couldn’t reproduce a high level in the evening, however, as he appeared to run out of gas at crunch time.
Carter grew in confidence as the game progressed and reeled off six out of the remaining seven frames during the evening bout of play to deservedly prevail.
The 47 year-old collected the £100,000 top prize and the Steve Davis Trophy in what was the first of four events on the Home Nations Series this season.
“It doesn’t feel real at the moment,” a beaming Ali Carter told the World Snooker Tour. “It hasn’t really sunk in.”
“But I’m particularly pleased with the way I won it at the end. That is more pleasing than anything. You never want to scrap over the line.
“I’ve not won as many titles as someone like Mark Williams or Mark Selby or any of them, but it’s great. The boys know I can play, that’s for sure.
“I was trying to play aggressive and take my shots on, but sometimes the game doesn’t play out that way.
“It’s nice to do the free-flowing stuff, but you just have to get the frames on the board somehow.
“I think in all my ranking event victories, I had never beaten an all-time great. So to win today against one of the all-time greats makes it extra special.
“Not being detrimental to any of the players I’ve beaten in finals, but they were lower-ranked players – maybe lower-ranked players than me.
“I’ve had a tough time with Ronnie [O’Sullivan] in Triple Crown events, so to play Mark Williams and win today in front of my home crowd is a dream come true.”
Victory for the player known as the Captain, who prepared by flying his plane on the eve of the final, was his first since 2024.
Few including himself would have predicted his impressive run at the start of the week, which featured a quarter-final victory over Zhou Yuelong when he was two down with three to play.
“To be honest, I didn’t fancy winning my first match against Jackson Page, and that’s the God’s honest truth.”
“Last week I had the flu after I got back from China, and I lost 4-3 in Cheltenham to someone ranked 110 in the world.
“I thought maybe it’s time I get a job or do something else. Before you know it, the next week I’ve turned up and I’m going home with the silverware – happy days!”
The triumph also guarantees Carter an invitation to the upcoming Champion of Champions, while further rewards are possible beyond that this term.
The former World Championship runner-up returns to the top 16 on the official rankings list and is well-positioned to challenge for an automatic ticket to the UK Championship towards the end of the calendar year.
“It’s great to be back at the Champion of Champions. There was so much riding on today with the spin-offs that you get from winning a big tournament.”
“I’ll probably be in the 16 for the UK, then the Masters probably, and then obviously the Players Series events which will mean I won’t have to qualify for the Worlds.
“It’s just massive. But I wasn’t thinking about any of that, I was just on auto-pilot. I was thinking that I’m not getting off this table until I’ve potted all the balls.
“I’ve won, and that’s the end of it.”
Featured photo credit: WST
Contrasting SF and F experiences for Williams: he blitzed Murphy in the SF, but got blitzed by Carter in the F.
As I said before, I find this kind of thing interesting when it occurs between two top players — to be a top player, you have to demonstrate mental toughness — so to get blitzed like that after the break, to see him suffer such a competitive lapse, is not something you expect from Williams.
OK, maybe Carter isn’t as ‘top’ as Williams, but he’s one of best journeyman players — he’s been around, he knows about match pressure — anyway, this time it was Williams who crumbled, whereas on Saturday it was Murphy.
Phil Yates made the point about the opposition in Carter’s previous ranking finals not being of the same stature as Mark Williams. He then suggested that could make it Carter’s best ever win.
The added significance of winning at home possibly does make it his greatest triumph despite the German Masters, Welsh Open, World Open and Shanghai Masters all being more prestigious tournaments in my opinion.
A good win, and honest words afterwards by the sound of them. Great week for Ali Carter which will indeed set up the rest of his season for him nicely. Mark Williams probably thinking about the next one already!