Aaron Hill's bid to reach the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre ended in the final qualifying round with a 10-6 defeat to England's David Gilbert. The match, played on April 14, 2026, saw Gilbert, a former world semi-finalist, secure his place in the main draw.
Hill, a 24-year-old from Cork, Ireland, had previously lost to Gilbert in the 2024 UK Championship. Despite a strong effort, he was unable to overcome the experienced Englishman in the best-of-19 frames contest at the qualifying event in Sheffield.
David Gilbert will now progress to the main stage of the tournament, which begins on April 18, 2026. For Aaron Hill, the defeat marks another near miss in his pursuit of a first Crucible appearance since 2020.
