23-06-2025
Aaron Hill books Wuhan Open spot as debutants Fergal Quinn and Leone Crowley whitewashed
Aaron Hill secured a spot in August's Wuhan Open this afternoon but it turned out to be a baptism of fire for Fergal Quinn and Leone Crowley on their WST debuts.
Hill comfortably saw off England's Sam Craigie 5-1 with four breaks over 50. The Cork native, who starts the new season at a career high of 50 in the world rankings, raced into a 4-0 lead before Craigie stopped the rot.
But 23-year-old Hill won the next frame to secure a place at the tournament proper, alongside Antrim's Jordan Brown, who beat Duane Jones 5-1 yesterday.
It wasn't to be for Fergal Quinn who lost out 5-0 to world number 46 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who had a high break of 95. The defeat to the Thai was Quinn's first match since securing a tour card at Q School earlier this month.
Elsewhere, fellow debutant Leone Crowley also lost 5-0 to 2010 world champion Neil Robertson. Crowley secured his spot on the tour earlier this year by winning the WSF Junior Championship in Morocco, but The Thunder from Down-Under looked sharp, winning the match with a century along the way in frame two.
