'Much bigger than beating Ronnie O'Sullivan' – Aaron Hill celebrates greatest triumph at snooker Q School

Aaron Hill insists his success at snooker Q School in securing his professional status for another two years is a bigger feat than beating world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. The 20-year-old Cork kid overcame 18-year-old Chinese prodigy Zhao Jianbo 4-1 in the finals of event two to claim a new two-year tour card in Sheffield. Ad/> Despite completing a famous 5-4 win over O'Sullivan in the last 64 of the European Masters in September 2020, Hill has toiled for results and was forced to return Q School at Ponds Forge after slumping to 93 in the world rankings last season.

SnookerHill secures new tour card two years after famous win over O'SullivanA DAY AGO Out of a starting grid of 127, only four players could win tour cards from event two with another four available from event three as Q School concludes on Thursday. Fergal O'Brien,Rod Lawler, Andy Lee and Bai Langning claimed the first four tour cards from event one last week. «To be sitting here after getting through Q School is a much bigger achievement than beating Ronnie,» Hill told reporters.

/> «I was thrown in at the deep end on the tour and didn’t expect it to be as tough as it was. But I have got a second chance and I am determined to make the most of it.” /> Hill opened with a break of 110 against 18-year-old Zhao – who has a final chance to regain his tour status in event three – before winning the final three frames. He enjoyed earlier wins over James Lee (4-0), Faizaan Mohammed (4-0), Gao Yang (4-2) and Kuldesh Johal (4-0).