Ali Carter completes emotional victory at World Open after overcoming illness to return to world’s top 16
English cueman claims fourth ranking event of his career after beating Joe Perry 10-8 in the final of the World Open in Yushan, China
England’s Ali Carter claimed the fourth ranking event of his career after beating Joe Perry 10-8 in the final of the Hanteng Autos World Open in Yushan, China on Sunday night.
Carter was playing in his first major final since receiving the all-clear from lung cancer in 2014.
The in-form Carter won six consecutive frames to go 8-3 ahead before riding out a late comeback from Perry to see out the win 10-8.
The 37-year-old pocketed the £90,000 (HK$925,000) winner’s check and rose 15 spots in the rankings to move back into the top 16 in the world.
“I have been through a lot over the last couple of years so to get back into the top 16 is a huge achievement,” said an emotional Carter.
“I’m delighted – there was so much riding on today, winning a ranking event as well as my top-16 place,” the two-time World Championship runner-up added.
Carter’s biggest triumphs previous to Sunday where his titles at the 2009 Welsh Open, 2010 Shanghai Masters and 2013 German Masters.
The popular figure initially battled testicular cancer before being diagnosed with a tumour on his lung. He has also lived with the effects of Crohn’s disease for several years.
Carter’s win earns him a place at the Champion of Champions event in November and likely the World Grand Prix and Players Championship later in the season.
