Ronnie O'Sullivan has openly spoken about his persistent struggles that surfaced during his match against Ali Carter, issues he's been facing for an extensive period. Making a highly anticipated comeback at the World Snooker Championship on Tuesday against his adversary Carter, things initially looked promising for O'Sullivan as he took a commanding 5-2 lead.

However, by the end of the session, Carter had narrowed the gap, resulting in a tight 5-4 scoreline before Wednesday's crucial showdown. Despite the excitement of the game, both competitors fought against challenges, with O'Sullivan particularly troubled in his long-shot execution. Some fans speculated it was due to a change in cue, but the snooker phenom rejects such an excuse.

Post-match, in an interview with TNT Sports, O'Sullivan confessed: "That's just me. I've had four years of it to be honest, hitting the ball all over the place. I have to try and stay in the moment, and play my way through it."

He also elaborated on his emotions during the game, saying: "I wouldn't say [I was] nervous, but I hadn't played for a while. The reason why I did stop was because it was so bad, even in practice, it got to me a bit. I didn't expect much today, but I thought, if I get a few frames off Ali, make it competitive, I'll be happy with that."

World champion Kyren Wilson weighed in on O'Sullivan's recent bout with Carter, suggesting the outcome could be pivotal before Wednesday's session.

He commented: "There was so much built-up expectation with Ali coming in as a qualifier and Ronnie coming in as an unknown this year, which is so strange.

"I'm sure Ronnie will go away and be happy with a one-frame lead. Ali seemed to have the bit between his teeth.

"That will feel massive going in at 5-4 rather than 6-3 [down]. There have been positives from both guys that they can take into Wednesday's session."

As the second showdown on Wednesday looms, O'Sullivan has not minced words about his opponent Carter. Given their history of animosity, a cool reception was anticipated at the Crucible Theatre.

However, O'Sullivan extended a handshake to Carter, which was promptly reciprocated, setting a civil tone before they settled into their seats for the commencement of play. The adversaries are set to reconvene for the crucial second session on Wednesday afternoon.