Aaron Hill Wins European Under-18 Championship

Ireland’s Aaron Hill has won the European Under-18 Championship after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Dylan Emery in Israel.

The 16 year-old fought back from 3-1 down to triumph in a gripping contest with breaks of 84, 59, and 50.

Hill has been at the forefront of a talented crop of young cueists from Cork who have emerged onto the Irish scene in recent years.

The Crucible Snooker Club player won his first Irish ranking event earlier this campaign when he recorded success in the Hickson’s Centra Open.

Hill has also been a regular winner on the domestic junior circuit, capturing the Under-18 and Under-16 national trophies in 2018.

The European Under-18 Championship success in Eilat brings his game to an even higher level and it will be intriguing to see how the teenager can perform in both the European Under-21s and the flagship Men’s championship later this week.

Hill impressed throughout the Under-18 tournament, compiling the most breaks over 50 with a total of 16 to his credit.

In the quarter-finals, he beat Belgium’s Julien Leclercq 4-1 before a 4-2 defeat of Florian Nüßle in the last four.

Ross Bulman, another player from Cork’s stable of rising stars, lost to runner-up Emery in the other semi-final clash.

Hill took to social media shortly after his victory, saying: “European U18 champion! Wow what a feeling.”

While there is no tour card on offer for the European Under-18 Championship, Hill will likely receive an invitation to compete in this year’s World Snooker Championship qualifiers – as has been customary in recent seasons.

The European Under-21 Championship will get under way on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday before the blue riband competition starts on Saturday.

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