January 31st 2025.
At just 22 years old, Aaron Hill is making waves in the snooker world. He's currently in the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament for only the second time in his career, and he's feeling confident and determined to learn from his past mistakes. This impressive run started at the German Masters, where he defeated the three-time world champion Mark Williams in the first round. He then went on to beat Jimmy Robertson and Tom Ford, securing his spot in the last eight.
This isn't the first time Hill has reached the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament. Last season, he made it to the same stage at the Wuhan Open. But he's not resting on his laurels. In fact, he's continuing to make progress and improve his game. In his match against Ford, Hill took an early 4-0 lead before his opponent fought back to win three frames in a row. But Hill stayed focused and eventually secured a 5-3 victory with a break of 74. He admits to feeling a sense of relief after the match, but he's also buzzing with excitement for the quarter-finals.
Speaking of his upcoming match against Xiao Guodong, Hill remains level-headed and determined. He's not getting ahead of himself or allowing his head to be "up in the clouds," as he's done in the past after some big wins. He's treating this match just like any other, with the same preparation and focus he's had all week. And he knows it will be a tough game, as is expected at this stage of the tournament. But he's not finished yet and hopes to continue making his family and supporters proud.
Hill also takes a moment to thank the crowd for their amazing support throughout the tournament. He believes their enthusiasm is partly due to him beating a top player like Mark Williams in the first round, but he's grateful for their support nonetheless. He also gives a shout out to all his supporters back home, but admits that he's trying to stay away from his phone to avoid getting too caught up in the moment and losing focus. He's determined to stay in the present and keep doing his family proud.
While Hill is enjoying his success, he's also aware that he's not the only surprise player in the quarter-finals. Both world number one Judd Trump and Masters champion Shaun Murphy were beaten in the last 16, leaving an unexpected line-up in the last eight. Neil Robertson and Yuan Sijun were the players to knock them out, and they will face each other in the quarter-finals. World champion Kyren Wilson is also still in the running, facing off against Anthony McGill in the same session as Hill's match against Xiao Guodong.
The evening session will see Robertson take on Yuan, while Wu Yize will face off against Barry Hawkins. Wilson is the only former champion left in the field, having won the tournament in 2019. But there are other players in the quarter-finals who have also won ranking titles this season, such as Robertson and Xiao. Robertson, in particular, is feeling motivated after his win against the world number one and is determined to go one step further than his runner-up spot in 2020. He also expresses his love for playing in Germany, where he always receives tremendous support from the crowd. The atmosphere and the level of competition make it a privilege to play there.
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