'He's robbing a few quid off me!' - How Aaron Hill drew an advantage from Ali Carter's 147 break as Irishman's stellar English Open run continues
Published 18/09/2025 at 00:18 GMT+1
Aaron Hill has enjoyed a quite stunning breakthrough this season, and particularly at the English Open, where he hit a fantastic 147 break in qualifying. On Wednesday, he was on the receiving end of a maximum, as Ali Carter slammed home a perfect run. Despite being aggrieved that Carter was "robbing a few quid" off him, Hill explained how he profited on his opponent's break to win the match.
Hill jokes Carter 'robbing a few quid off me' after 147 break
Video credit: TNT Sports
At 3-1 down and with a maximum break against him, Aaron Hill's exit from the English Open looked all but sealed.
But the Irishman said success "never comes easy to me," and that certainly rung true on Wednesday as he sealed an incredible comeback victory over Ali Carter - who could not capitalise on his spectacular 147 to seal a spot in the last 16.
Victory for Hill continued a fantastic week, which saw him dispatch a maximum break of his own in the qualifying rounds.
His prize money for doing so will now be shared with Carter - but he insisted victory was the most important matter.
"Absolutely delighted to get through that, 3-1 down against a player like Ali Carter - doesn't get much tougher," Hill told TNT Sports. "He was just after getting a max as well, he's robbing a few quid off me!"
Asked where the victory ranked among his career best, Hill responded: "That is well up there, from being behind as well, I wasn't really in the match at 3-1.
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Watch the moment Carter clinches maximum break - despite late scare
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I missed an easy red to go 2-1 up, so to keep battling and keep fighting and staying in there, delighted."
Carter was sinking the balls with serious intent early on, ramming home a century, and responded to being pegged back level with a break of 77 and 147 to go within a frame of victory.
His maximum break was a staggering 10th among the players on tour this season. Hill produced one of those just days ago.
He noted the "adrenaline" that comes with sinking a perfect break, and explained how he used that to his advantage to claw back the most unlikely of comeback victories on Wednesday evening.
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Hill told World Snooker Tour: "When he made the max, I thought he's going to be full of adrenaline, so I said, 'right this is going to be my chance to nick it and get 3-2'.
"I managed to steal that frame, a bit scrappy, and then played a good safety to force an error out of Ali in the next one."
The 23-year-old added: "I said when he made the max, the only thing that can justify it is if I win the match. I stuck in there from 3-1 behind. He's an animal at the table, so to come back and beat him, I'm delighted."
Hill was then drawn on his own maximum break earlier in the week, and again pointed a jibe at Carter over his swoop into the prize pot.
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'That was a classic!' Experts react to Carter's 147 break as it happened
Video credit: TNT Sports
"It was unbelievable, it was a goal of mine to make a max on the tour," Hill said. "It was some buzz.
"I was quite nervous making it, but I knew I'd do it. I was over the moon. Ali's nicking a few quid off me there, but I don't mind because I won the match."
To some, Hill reaching the latter stages of the English Open - beating Carter and Stephen Maguire en route - may be deemed a shock.
But not to the Irishman, who has been practicing with Mark Allen, and said his rigorous training has lended itself well to match scenarios.
"I feel like my game is as good as any of theirs when I'm on it," Hill said. "I feel like I can really mix it with these boys now, week in week out, so it doesn't surprise me to get wins like this.
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Watch thrilling finish as Hill completes memorable 147 at English Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I work hard, practice a lot, get good games off good players. I practice with one of the best players in the world in Mark Allen. When I practice with the likes of him it doesn't feel like that much of a step up.
"The practice is so intense, it feels the same to me now when I play matches. I feel really comfortable out there these days."
Hill will face Jack Lisowski - who beat world champion Zhao Xintong on Wednesday evening - for a place in the quarter-final.
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Shanghai Masters, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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