Cork teenager Aaron Hill stuns world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan

18-year-old tour rookie beats his boyhood idol and world champion 5-4 at European Masters

Cork teenager Aaron Hill claimed a sensational win over boyhood idol Ronnie O'Sullivan at the European Masters on Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old tour rookie beat the six-time world champion 5-4 in a thriller at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

Hill, in his first year as a professional and in the biggest match of his life, led 3-1 with a confident start against his snooker hero.

The mid-session interval came at the right time for the 44-year-old O’Sullivan who had looked all at sea in the early frames.

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The world No2, in his first match since winning the World Championship last month, regrouped after the break taking three frames in a row.

But Hill served notice of his nerve and talent by rallying and staying cool to seal a magnificent victory.

Hill said: “I am almost speechless. He has always been my hero, but I wasn’t out there just happy to be in the same arena. I wanted to win.

“And I am just so pleased to win for myself and for my family and everyone back in Cork. My phone has gone mad since I finished.

“At 3-1 up I thought I was favourite and could have gone 4-1 but after the interval he came back well. However I still told myself I’d have taken 4-3 down at the start, and that helped.

“I told myself to go out an enjoy it and that I had nothing to lose, and it is a fantastic win so early in my professional career.

“His comment about there being no good young players coming through was in my mind, and hopefully I have shown him there is some talent there.”