Cork's Aaron Hill has watched snooker become more competitive than ever in the 2025-2026 season, knowing he must bide his time to get to the winner’s circle.
Hill will turn 24 early this year, a time when most sportspeople are heading for their peak.
Perhaps in snooker it’s not the way. There have been 14 tournaments played so far this season, producing 13 different winners, demonstrating how difficult it has to become to be a consistent victor.
Mark Selby bucked the trend when claiming the UK Championship for his second title of the year, but otherwise there’s been a new name every week.
Alfie Burden, at the age of 49, won his first World Snooker Tour event in December in the Snooker Shoot Out, proving it’s never too late for those who have spent decades trying to get there.
A quarter of a century might be too long for Hill’s patience. Nevertheless, it shows the waiting game that must be played.
Hill’s progress has been clear. He has reached a quarter-final in each of the last three seasons.
This year it came in the English Open and there’s plenty of more time left to build on four third-round finishes already achieved in 2025-2026.
Reflecting on his campaign so far, he told RTÉ Sport: "Yeah, it's been a good year, especially this season. I've had a couple of consistent runs. I've had four events in a row where I've had a last-16 or better, and so it's been a kind of consistent season for me.
"I think it's my sixth year in the tour now, so I've gained a lot of experience.
"The more experience I'm getting, the stronger I'm getting. I felt it was a long time coming, so I've been showing glimpses of what I can do. It's great this season, I'm kind of putting it together a bit more consistently. And hopefully, going forward, obviously, I'll be getting more deep runs and hopefully winning trophies."
Perhaps the improvement this year is not a coincidence.
Fergal O'Brien, who retired from the sport in 2024, has been working with Hill on a regular basis.
The impact has been clear, according to the former European Under-21 title winner.
"Fergal O’Brien has been a big help to me," Hill admitted.
"It has definitely helped me be a bit more consistent throughout results. And the way I'm playing the matches and the way I'm thinking about matches is massive.
"It’s just the experience Fergal has. He's been on the tour for 30 years and he's been there, done it all, been a top-16 player, a ranking event winner, so he knows what it takes to be a champion and he obviously sees potential in me.
"He's not wasting his time by working with me. So that gives me great confidence. And he just kind of reassures me that I have what it takes and it's only a matter of time."
Ken Doherty was once the Irish player most associated with a perfect 147 break, before this year.
The Dubliner famous missed a black for £80,000 during a 10-8 defeat by Matthew Stevens in the 2000 Masters final.
Hill has taken on the mantle in a much more positive way. He became the first Irish player to make two maximum breaks in one season this year.
In September, Hill made the first maximum in defeating China’s Yao Pengcheng in the English Open. Just 23 days later, he repeated the trick during his 5–2 win over Huang Jiahao at the Xi'an Grand Prix.
Remarkably there have been 16 maximum breaks on tour this season so far.
"That's been brilliant, getting a good name for myself for making them," Hill admits.
"There isn't a player on the tour that can’t make a 147. It's great, long may it last"
"I'm known as the 147 man at the moment around the tour. It's been a great buzz, especially getting one in China as well.
"Snooker is so big out there. When I made it they were all cheering and celebrating and it was a big thing for them to see it.
"I've been out to China twice since I've made it and it made me more popular out there now.
"A lot more people are coming up to me and getting pictures and all that which is a great buzz for me. I'm just a young fella starting out in this career and it's all a great buzz like.
"It’s crazy that there have been 16 maximum breaks, still with half the season to go.
"It's just the standard is so good on the tour these days.
"There isn’t a player on the tour that can’t make a 147. It's great, long may it last."
Hill did suffer setbacks as well during 2025.
He missed out on a place in the World Championship and the UK Championship after coming up short in the qualifying rounds.
The loss for the spot in the famous Crucible Theatre was particularly hurtful.
He lost a deciding frame in a 10-9 defeat to David Gilbert in the final qualifying round, having led 6-3.
Hill is hoping the manner of the defeat can inspire him in the future.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. It's one of my biggest dreams to get to the Crucible and play there. To get so close and the lead I had in the match is tough to take.
"But to be fair, Gilbert did well to come back. He threw everything at me and I just kind of missed one chance really in the last frame.
"You could flip it over into a positive and say I was one frame away from one of my biggest dreams, so I'm not that far away as what I think I am.
"I'll be really looking forward to this year though and hopefully I can make it right this year."
Now ranked 42nd in the world, the best days are ahead. Time will tell if he realises his dreams in 2026.
Aaron Hill was speaking to RTÉ Sport's Dave Kelly
