Cork teenager Aaron Hill ready to chase Crucible dream

Aaron Hill, still in his rookie year as a professional, has been placed in a tough section of the draw and must win four matches to make it to the iconic theatre venue.

Cork's Aaron Hill: Hoping to qualify for the World Championship.

Aaron Hill is known to family and friends as ‘De Breeze’, and the teenager will need every ounce of his ice-cool temperament to fulfil a dream and reach the Crucible.

The 19-year-old from Cork starts his Betfred World Championship qualifying campaign this week at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Hill, still in his rookie year as a professional, has been placed in a tough section of the draw and must win four matches to make it to the iconic theatre venue.

He starts against Yorkshire’s Ashley Hugill, and may have to then beat Sam Craigie, Hossein Vafaei and Zhao Xintong to go all the way.

The high point of his debut campaign so far has unquestionably been a 5-4 victory over the great Ronnie O’Sullivan at the European Masters. The Rocket is the reigning world champion.

And Hill insists he has learned from every experience and possesses the belief to achieve his goal.

Hill said: “I am looking forward to the World Championship more than ever this year after my first season as a professional.

“And to actually win the four matches and to make it through to the Crucible would mean the absolute world to me.

I know if I manage to put everything together there is no reason why I can’t qualify.

“It has been a good taste of the tour this season, but I am going in there to Sheffield with a point to prove.

Highs and lows

“Tour is a tough place and there have been highs and lows, but there have been lots of positives and I am happy enough.

“I have just felt that I am getting more used to it and more comfortable with every tournament, and it will feel more like home next season.

“It has been tough not being able to have someone with me, family or a mate, but I am thankful just to be playing in these strange times.

Cork professional Aaron Hill played in his first Triple Crown event in the UK Championship against Norway's Kurt Maflin

“The World Championship is a massive tournament in every way, and even in the qualifiers you can win money can really put you up the rankings with a win or two.

“My first match is against Ashley Hugill, he is a good player and though we haven’t met as pros he beat me in the final of a Challenge Tour event last year in Belgium.

But it is all on the day. The section I am in is not the easiest for sure, a tough route, but if you are going to qualify you have to come through those tests.

“Certainly last year as an amateur in these qualifiers I didn’t start well, so that is something I am really looking at, to make a good start. But the year before I only got pipped at the end.

“The win over Ronnie did change things for me a bit in terms of people recognising me, 100%.

“I had terrific support from home anyway, and since then I am always getting asked about that win walking around, which is brilliant and gives me confidence.

“It was my dad who gave me the nickname ‘De Breeze’ a while ago and it sort of stuck.

“For anyone outside Ireland, I have to explain it sort of means ‘He’s cool as a breeze’! I think he meant that little fazes me and I can stay calm and collected out there, and take it all in my stride.

“I got announced as ‘De Breeze’ by the MC at the Shootout and it was nice to hear it on TV, and hopefully I am like that off the table too.”