Four-time world champion Higgins looked in complete control before the mid-session interval in securing a clean sweep of all four frames boosted by a 76 run in the third frame.
But the match turned on its head when Higgins missed frame-ball red along the top cushion for a 5-1 lead as Carter, the finalist in 2008 and 2012, mopped up the red and colours to pinch the frame by four points.
It was to prove a major turning point as Higgins scored only six points in the remainder of the session with his opponent finishing with runs of 91 and 74 to lead before they play to a finish on Monday afternoon at 14:30.
The Scot had the chance to stop the rot in the ninth frame, but got a bad kick on the white then missed a tricky black as Carter punished with one big visit having struggled earlier on.
The first man to 10 will take on Ronnie O’Sullivan or He Guoqiang in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, 2013 finalist Barry Hawkins completed a 10-4 win over two-time runner-up Matthew Stevens to book his spot in the second round.
He will take on Mark Williams or Antoni Kowalski in the last 16 with Williams 6-3 up from their opening session.
Carter flukes ‘unbelievable’ blue into middle pocket
Video credit: TNT Sports
As it happened: Carter roars back
Higgins 4-4 Carter (6-74)
In goes frame-ball black, and that is going to be a fifth straight frame for Carter. Heading for a 5-4 advantage at the halfway stage. 74 from Ali to finish. He leads 5-4.
Higgins 4-4 Carter (6-53)
Not the worst time for John to take a breather the way this match is developing. Not the greatest positional shot off the pink, but he squeezes red into the left middle.
Higgins 4-4 Carter (6-25)
Higgins forced to digest potentially losing this session with his safety and scoring game going off the boil at the wrong time.
Carter flukes ‘unbelievable’ blue into middle pocket
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Higgins 4-4 Carter (6-16)
Higgins misses the black after the kick. Wasn’t nicely on it, and doesn’t drop. Well, that is a big error. What a let-off for Ali, who is back among the balls here.
Higgins 4-4 Carter (5-0)
Higgins had not potted a ball for 40 minutes until he sinks a red to left centre after a tough old safety bout. In goes the brown, but John gets a horrific kick on the white seconds later.
Higgins 4-4 Carter (0-0)
John breaks off for frame nine, the final frame of the session.
Higgins 4-3 Carter (0-91)
Will we see a century here from Ali? He is buzzing out there now. Misses the black off spot, but 91 gets the job done every day of the week.
Higgins 4-3 Carter (0-69)
In goes the blue to left centre, and he lands nicely on the next red. Looks a formality now. 4-4 in this first-round match when Higgins needed a red for 5-1. How quickly this game of snooker can change.
Higgins 4-3 Carter (0-37)
No doubt John has given Ali a helping hand out there, but he is right back in this contest here. All the momentum is with the Essex man.
Higgins 4-3 Carter (0-20)
Another majestic red is buried by Ali to the left middle. Big chance then to build a healthy lead. A highest break of only 41 so far yet is looking good for 4-4 the way these balls are lying. John going off the boil since the mid sesh.
Higgins 4-2 Carter (0-82)
Three or four chances a frame being presented to Ali, and he is not going to keep missing. Two frames to come in this session. Higgins with a 4-3 lead as he heads for a comfort break.
Higgins 4-2 Carter (0-69)
Another error by Higgins on the safety side gives Carter a third pop at winning this frame. Higgins was in complete control of this match, but that missed red could yet be a match-changer.
Higgins 4-2 Carter (0-46)
Bad safety by John presents Ali with another chance to get this frame won. Rolls it in with some certainty. Should be the frame in the bag.
Higgins 4-2 Carter (0-41)
Plays white with top spin to smash a red into the left middle, but then catches pink after trying to run in and out of baulk via blue. Great long red, but isn’t on black. Safety to follow.
Higgins 4-2 Carter (0-34)
Carter looked certain to trail 5-1. Now he could be hitting back to only 4-3 behind if he can make the most of this opportunity.
Higgins 4-2 Carter (0-15)
John a bit too thin with a safety shot and Ali has chance to build a lead here as mid-range red is canned.
Higgins 4-1 Carter (56-60)
A composed clearance of 33 from Carter, who is back to 4-2 behind. Looked like 5-1 incoming, but that missed red could be a turning point in this match.
Higgins 4-1 Carter (56-33)
Fine long red by John to regain access to the table. Higgins rams in the green, and down for the red. Needs final two reds to leave Ali requiring a snooker. But John misses the frame-ball red along top cushion. Big chance of a steal for Carter.
Higgins 4-1 Carter (44-27)
Once again John loses the white after downing a tricky red. Now studying the green in baulk with three reds left on deck. Just knocks the white onto baulk cushion via yellow.
Higgins 4-1 Carter (43-27)
John with a thin cut on the red, but does well to hold the white below the baulk line. Needs one more good positional shot to get back to the reds. In goes brown.
Higgins 4-1 Carter (16-27)
Well, horrific miss by Ali on a red and he has just left John right in among these balls. What is that going to cost him as he sits back down. John doing his thing around the black spot as we speak.
Higgins 4-1 Carter (0-8)
Would you believe this? Ali misses the blue, but the object ball flies back across the table to land in the opposite middle pocket. Is the run of the ball turning?
Higgins 4-1 Carter (0-0)
Higgins gets ‘incredible’ luck to leave Carter ‘sinking’ in chair
Video credit: TNT Sports
Hawkins 10-4 Stevens
Stevens closed to 7-4 from 7-2 behind with breaks of 54 and 55, but 92 and 70 help Hawkins finish in some style. Through to take on Mark Williams or Antoni Kowalski in the second round.
Higgins 4-0 Carter (0-83)
Dominant performance from Ali in the fifth frame. Back to 41 behind with another four frames to come in this session.
Higgins 4-0 Carter (0-75)
Ali in pole position to pick up his first frame of the match. Still 83 points remaining on the table.
Hawkins 9-4 Stevens (40-0)
Looks like Barry Hawkins, the 2013 finalist, might be heading through to the last 16 here.
Higgins 4-0 Carter (0-27)
Ali really needing to halt the bleeding here. A lead of 27 points in the fifth frame.
Which World Championship records can O’Sullivan break this year?
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Higgins 3-0 Carter (63-4)
Higgins is certainly getting a run of the ball, and this looks like a clean sweep before the mid-session interval. Higgins heading for a 4-0 lead and a cup of tea. Carter not taking his chances and Higgins is putting away the balls with some good running.
Higgins 3-0 Carter (16-4)
Ali going in off trying to run safe. Not getting the run of the ball so far. Higgins with chance to add a few more points here. Trying to get the black into play.
Higgins 3-0 Carter (1-4)
Ali with first prod at these balls in the fourth frame, but not making much from several visits. Higgins slams home a long red.
Higgins 3-0 Carter (76-14)
A run of 76 from Higgins is very nice indeed. Looking very comfortable with his surroundings with one more frame to come before the mid-sesh.
Higgins 2-0 Carter (39-14)
Seems like Higgins might be heading for a 3-0 lead here if he can keep the white ball under lock and key.
Carter apologises after ‘angling’ Higgins in jaws of pocket
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Higgins 2-0 Carter (22-14)
Safety blunder by Carter presents Higgins with another decent chance to make some progress here. Black on pink spot, but that shouldn’t cause too much fuss for the former world champion.
Higgins 2-0 Carter (0-14)
Ali with an early lead in this third frame pf a possible 19. Bit of a tactical joust underway between the two Crucible veterans.
Hawkins 7-3 Stevens
A 54 break from Stevens in the 10th frame sees him close the gap back to four frames on the other main table.
Higgins 2-0 Carter (0-8)
Higgins breaks off for the third frame boosted by two runs of 44. Another lovely long red by Carter is canned.
Higgins 1-0 Carter (64-10)
Higgins with opportunity then to snaffle up this second frame here and now. John sliding in a red along the top cushion. Moving 53 clear with a possible 51 remaining. In goes key red to ensure Carter won’t return to the table.
Higgins 1-0 Carter (44-10)
Carter with a do-or-die long pot on a red. Went all out for that and in it went. Chance then to regain some ground in this frame. But he then misses a black at pace off the spot.
Higgins 1-0 Carter (44-1)
Higgins breaks down on 44 after losing ideal position on the red. Ali drops in a long red in response, but just safety to follow.
Higgins 1-0 Carter (37-0)
Enough balls in the open for John to put this frame away without getting too clever with any cannons and nudges.
Higgins 1-0 Carter (30-0)
Higgins clearly mean business here. Races to 22 and also cracks open the pack too. This is a glorious chance to put another frame on the scoreboard.
Higgins 0-0 Carter (69-9)
Super cut on a red to right middle followed by black long top cush. Very solid stuff. And he mops up the required points to take this first frame. Ali gives the nod. First blood to the Scot.
Higgins 0-0 Carter (44-9)
A very nice contribution of 44 from John before he runs the white to baulk. Happy to keep matters tight.
Higgins 0-0 Carter (31-9)
John reaches 30 without too much fuss. Studying the options arond the pink spot here. And chips in a red nicely to continue this visit to the table.
Higgins 0-0 Carter (14-9)
Ali manages to sneak in a red over a top pocket. And white comes back down table for the pink. Trying to get the cue arm working and hand on table. But a black is missed with the rest. Not what Ali needs.
Higgins 0-0 Carter (0-1)
Corking long red from Ali straight off the bat. Nice piece of cueing to get through the white. Nine frames to come in this opening session.
Allen hits back to sink Zhang
Mark Allen scored three centuries as he fought back from two frames behind to beat Zhang Anda 10-6 at the Crucible.
On the second morning of the World Snooker Championship, the Northern Irishman came into the session 5-3 down after struggling for consistency the previous day.
Allen pulled level after winning two close frames, before Zhang replied as the game looked set to be a mammoth encounter.
However, English Open winner Allen then found his form with two century breaks and won six consecutive frames to book his place in the second round.
In the session’s other match, Ding Junhui opened his championship with a formidable display, including two centuries, and leads David Gilbert 7-2.
The pair will continue their best-of-19-frames game on Monday morning, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
‘What a dreadful mistake’ – Zhang sets up Allen with massive error
Video credit: TNT Sports
World Championship LIVE – Higgins v Carter
Hello and welcome to TNT Sports’ live coverage from Day 2 at the Crucible.
Watch: What is the ‘Crucible Curse’?
What is the ‘Crucible Curse’ at the World Snooker Championship?
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How to watch and stream the World Championship
You can watch every day of the 2026 World Championship live on TNT Sports.
It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max. For the latest information on which snooker events are on TNT Sports, click here.Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide.
