Aaron Hill living his dream after shock German Masters win over Mark Williams

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Aaron Hill sprinted to the winning line against Mark Williams (Picture: Getty Images)

Aaron Hill landed one of the victories of his career on Tuesday night as he downed Mark Williams 5-2 at the German Masters.

The 22-year-old Irishman took a 2-0 lead with back-to-back half-centuries before the three-time world champion drew level, but Hill won the next three, getting over the line in style with a break of 115.

The world number 59 has had an unspectacular season so far but is into the last 32 in Berlin after adding another legend to his CV.

Hill famously beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the European Masters at the start of his very first season on tour in 2020, and scoring a big win in the Tempodrom is another box ticked in his career.

‘I’m delighted, especially the way I finished off in one visit. It is great to beat someone like Mark Williams,’ he said.

‘It was only a couple of years ago I was dreaming of playing in venues like this. It was always a goal of mine to qualify for this event, because it is such a unique venue with good crowds. They gave me great support there and it was a great feeling.’

The Breeze progresses to play Jimmy Robertson in the last 32 after the Englishman edged out Noppon Saengkham 5-4 on Tuesday.

Mark Williams is still world number six at 49 years old (Picture: Getty Images)

Shocks have not been plentiful over the first two days in Germany, with Hill’s the standout out, although Alexander Ursenbacher did land an impressive victory over Jack Lisowski.

It has been a tricky few years for the Swiss, but the 5-3 win will boost his confidence ahead of a clash with Ali Carter next.

‘Pressure is just an illusion. It is there but it isn’t real. We make it up in our minds,’ said the 28-year-old.

‘I walked in here a few days ago with nobody here and I felt cool. Today, because there are people sitting there I was shaking and could barely walk. It becomes easier. It never goes away but I’m trying to deal with it.’

John Higgins is looking to bounce back from a painful Masters loss (Picture: Getty Images)

Ursenbacher was getting pretty philosophical, as was John Higgins after his first round win over Mark Davis, enjoying the victory after a painful loss at the Masters earlier this month.

The Wizard of Wishaw lost 6-5 to Neil Robertson at Alexandra Palace after leading 5-1, not the first big lead he has lost in recent years, and he admits those kind of defeats are sapping his enjoyment of the game.

‘This is a sport that has given me so much over the years but it begins to take your soul bit by bit,’ he said.

‘This has been a good sport for me, but as you fall down the rankings it can begin to take that bit of goodness. It is a brutal sport sometimes.

‘That was a good win. Mark has always been really tough and given me some tough battles. It is always a good game when I play him and that was another one.’

Higgins has Jak Jones up next, with the Welshman coming off his record-breaking visit to the Championship League, where he scored 32 centuries, the most ever by a player in one event.

Other notable games on Wednesday in Berlin include world champion Kyren Wilson against Zhou Yuelong, Judd Trump facing Joe O’Connor, a repeat of the Wuhan Open final between Si Jiahui and Xiao Guodong, Masters champ Shaun Murphy playing Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Mark Allen taking on Wu Yize.

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