3 days ago
Aaron Hill loving Fergal O'Brien link-up as he sets sights on snooker's elite
Things are going in the right direction for Aaron Hill (Picture: Getty Images)
Aaron Hill is impressively climbing snooker's greasy pole and feels he has struck upon the formula that will take him to the top.
The Irishman famously made a splash as a teenager when he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in a ranking event and while that didn't catapult him to instant success, progress has been slow and steady since then.
Still just 23 years old, Hill is at his highest ranking of 50 in the world and feels increasingly confident in his game.
Five years as a professional already behind him, excellent practice partners and a link-up with Fergal O'Brien as his coach are all behind his encouraging improvement.
'I think I've developed as a player in the last couple of seasons, experience is massive,' Hill told Metro. 'I'm in a lot of situations that I can deal with better these days.
'My practice as well has been brilliant. I've been playing quite a bit with Mark Allen, Jordan Brown and Robbie McGuigan up in the Antrim Sports Club. Big shout out to the Antrim Sports Club because my game has come on a lot since I've practised with those boys.
'And starting work with Fergal O'Brien as well last year. We had a great season together, I loved it and I'm looking forward for next season with him.'
Hill is Ireland's great hope on the snooker table (Picture: Getty Images)
O'Brien was a pro for 33 years, a ranking event winner, Masters finalist and famously an intense competitor who was fiercely difficult to beat. Also a brilliant guy, who his student is delighted to get to spend time with.
'He's great,' said Hill. 'It's exactly who I wanted in my corner, whatever kind of question I have he's going to have the answer to because he's been through it all.
'And we get on great together as well, you know, we're great buddies so it's brilliant.'
On O'Brien's never-say-die, scrape-him-off-the-table attitude, Hill says: 'That's an inspirational way to be, you need to be like that on the table. You need to be tough as nails out there because there's no one else can pot the balls for you. You need to be tough and hard. Then he just switches it off when he's off the table.
'Having Fergal is just unreal. He's one of the most experienced players in the game so when you're around a fella like him, it can only improve your game and your mental strength.'
Fergal O'Brien is an incredible source of knowledge and support (Picture: Getty Images)
An experienced veteran may be the ideal person to have in your corner, but having anyone at all is a plus because the tour can be a lonely, difficult place. Something Hill discovered in his first couple of seasons as a professional.
'It's tough on your own,' he said. 'The first couple of years of my own were not that much fun. You need someone in your corner. I was trying to find the right person and he retired at just the right time. It was written in the stars.'
Those tricky first couple of years saw Hill very briefly drop off tour in 2022, but he immediately regained his place at Q School, returning with a stronger mentality that continues to improve as his passion for the game only grows.
'It is tough and hard at times, especially when you're young and you're travelling on your own, but I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. If I won the Lotto in the morning I'd still play snooker.
Hill will hope to better his best ranking run of a quarter-final this season (Picture: Getty Images)
'I love the game, I love competing and love winning. I'm holding goals high up in the sky for myself now, to start winning trophies. I love what I do. Those hard times at the start, and still some now, they're all worth it in the end when when it comes good.
'Every season for me so far has been my best season, I've been progressing every year. It's going in the right direction and I feel like I've a lot more to offer.
'I want to keep pushing on. It would be nice to get in the top 32 next and then we'd push for the top 16.'
Aaron Hill's biggest wins
10-5 Anthony McGill – 2025 World Championship qualifying
5-2 Mark Williams – 2025 German Masters
4-3 Ding Junhui – 2024 British Open
4-2 Mark Selby – 2024 Welsh Open
4-1 Judd Trump – 2022 Northern Ireland Open
5-4 Zhao Xintong – 2021 European Masters
5-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan – 2020 European Masters
Hill displays a really impressive attitude, thinking positively and purposefully, with even one of the more stinging defeats of his career not getting him down too much.
He was one win away from a Crucible debut in April and led Dave Gilbert 7-3 only to be pipped 10-9 and miss out on a first trip to snooker's most famous venue.
'I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt, but I got over it fairly quick and took a lot of positives from that week.
'It's been taking good performances all season to beat me and Dave did well to come back, I didn't put it on a plate for him, hats off to him.
'I can't be dwelling on it and just have to keep moving on and in the right direction and take all the positives. One frame away from the Crucible, one of my biggest dreams to get there, so I'm not too far away.'
Hill will undoubtedly get there at some point, with snooker lucky to have attracted the talents of someone who describes himself as 'handy' at football, hurling, Gaelic football, boxing and basketball when he was growing up.
'Snooker came last and that's what I stuck with,' he explains.
With the Crucible's current contract to hold the World Championship only running until 2027, Hill may not have long to fulfil his dream, but he is not just talking about appearing at the Sheffield theatre, but lifting the trophy in the iconic building.
'I'd be gutted if it moved and I didn't play there once,' he said. 'Give me a chance to play there before it moves at least, you know, and once I play there and hopefully win it, they can move it to wherever they want.'
Aaron Hill sends his thanks to sponsors Singleton SuperValu, Holly the Crucible Snooker Club in Cork.
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