Michael Holt (snooker player)
Encyclopedia
Michael Holt is a professional snooker
player from Nottingham
, England
. , he has reached the quarter finals of three ranking tournaments – the 1999 UK Championship, the 2003 LG Cup, and the 2005 Grand Prix.
, before losing the next five frames to lose the match.
In the 2005 World Snooker Championship
, he beat his friend Paul Hunter
in the first round. In the second round he faced Steve Davis
, losing 10–13 after having led 8–2. For the 2005 tournament he used eBay
to auction the sponsorship space on his waistcoat to Cabaret, a Nottingham nightspot.
He qualified for the 2006 World Championship, and lost in the first round to eventual runner-up Peter Ebdon
10–8, earning Ebdon's applause as a result of his performance.
He won the non-ranking German Open in 2006, and reached the final in 2005. His 5–3 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan
in the 2007 Malta Cup was his first in five attempts against O'Sullivan. He then lost to Mark King
in the last 16 there. He lost to eventual champion John Higgins in the first round in 2007 The rest of 2007 was unspectacular, barring victory in the minor Dutch Open, which featured 7 of the top 32 of the time, including wins over Nigel Bond
and Barry Pinches
. He missed out on the 2008 World Championship after losing to Michael Judge
, causing him to drop out of the top 32 after 4 seasons there, after a season in which he failed to reach the last 16 of a ranking event.
Holt's results improved in 2008/2009. He reached the last 16 of the 2008 Grand Prix
, defeating Jimmy White
and Michael Judge
to qualify and scored a 5–1 defeat of Mark Allen
at the venue, before losing 2–5 to Ding Junhui
. In the subsequent Bahrain Championship
Holt scored a 5–0 victory over David Morris
in which his Irish opponent scored just 10 points, the lowest total in a best-of-nine world ranking match since 1992. He then beat Jamie Cope
to reach the last sixteen and commented that he was in the best form of his life. He then lost 4–5 to Robert Milkins
in the last 16, having led 4–0. He defeated Mark Davis
and Dominic Dale
to reach the 2009 World Championship, guaranteeing his return to the top 32. He summarised the change in his game by commenting "This year, people have had to beat me. I haven't given matches away"
He has been docked frames for swearing during matches, and was fined for throwing up chocolate early in the 2006/2007 season during a second round match. Holt is also infamous for conceding the deciding frame (while level at 4–4) in a China Open match in 2005 against Joe Perry
, while there were still 13 reds left available to pot. On a similar theme, his nickname
“The Hitman” comes from his penchant for hitting the table in anger, which once resulted in a broken knuckle.
He also DJs in Greece as a hobby during the close season, and is a qualified personal trainer.
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. , he has reached the quarter finals of three ranking tournaments – the 1999 UK Championship, the 2003 LG Cup, and the 2005 Grand Prix.
Career
He lost in the final qualifying round of the World Snooker Championship in 2001 and 2002. Holt almost qualified for the 2004 event – he was 9–5 ahead in his final qualifying match against Anthony HamiltonAnthony Hamilton (snooker player)
Anthony Hamilton is an English professional snooker player noted for his strong break-building technique and distinctive appearance. He has spent five seasons ranked among the game's top 16, and fifteen in the top 32, reaching a career-high at number #10 in the world in the 1999/2000 season...
, before losing the next five frames to lose the match.
In the 2005 World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
, he beat his friend Paul Hunter
Paul Hunter
Paul Alan Hunter was an English professional snooker player. His media profile developed swiftly and he became known as the "Beckham of the Baize" because of his good looks and flamboyant style....
in the first round. In the second round he faced Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
, losing 10–13 after having led 8–2. For the 2005 tournament he used eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
to auction the sponsorship space on his waistcoat to Cabaret, a Nottingham nightspot.
He qualified for the 2006 World Championship, and lost in the first round to eventual runner-up Peter Ebdon
Peter Ebdon
Peter "Ebbo" Ebdon is an English professional snooker player and former world champion renowned for his remarkably focused, determined style of play.-Early years:...
10–8, earning Ebdon's applause as a result of his performance.
He won the non-ranking German Open in 2006, and reached the final in 2005. His 5–3 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
in the 2007 Malta Cup was his first in five attempts against O'Sullivan. He then lost to Mark King
Mark King (snooker player)
Mark King is an English professional snooker player. He has not yet won a ranking tournament, but came close when he was a beaten finalist in the 1997 Regal Welsh Open and the 2004 Irish Masters.- Career :...
in the last 16 there. He lost to eventual champion John Higgins in the first round in 2007 The rest of 2007 was unspectacular, barring victory in the minor Dutch Open, which featured 7 of the top 32 of the time, including wins over Nigel Bond
Nigel Bond
-External links:*...
and Barry Pinches
Barry Pinches
-External links:**...
. He missed out on the 2008 World Championship after losing to Michael Judge
Michael Judge
-External links:**...
, causing him to drop out of the top 32 after 4 seasons there, after a season in which he failed to reach the last 16 of a ranking event.
Holt's results improved in 2008/2009. He reached the last 16 of the 2008 Grand Prix
Grand Prix (snooker)
The World Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It has previously been known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup and the Grand Prix. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique round-robin format, more similar to association football and rugby tournaments than the...
, defeating Jimmy White
Jimmy White
James Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...
and Michael Judge
Michael Judge
-External links:**...
to qualify and scored a 5–1 defeat of Mark Allen
Mark Allen (snooker player)
Mark Allen is a Northern Irish professional snooker player. He won the World Amateur Championship in 2004. The following year he turned professional and took only three seasons to reach the elite top 16...
at the venue, before losing 2–5 to Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui is a Chinese professional snooker player. Ding Junhui is China's most successful player ever, having become only the second teenager, after John Higgins, to win three ranking titles...
. In the subsequent Bahrain Championship
Bahrain Championship 2008
The 2008 Bahrain Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 8 November and 15 November 2008 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Bahrain...
Holt scored a 5–0 victory over David Morris
David Morris (snooker player)
David Morris, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, on 27 November 1988, is an Irish snooker player, who is widely considered a rising star of the game.-Early career:Aged 16, he reached the quarter finals of the U21 World Snooker Championships...
in which his Irish opponent scored just 10 points, the lowest total in a best-of-nine world ranking match since 1992. He then beat Jamie Cope
Jamie Cope
-External links:***...
to reach the last sixteen and commented that he was in the best form of his life. He then lost 4–5 to Robert Milkins
Robert Milkins
- External links :* * * *...
in the last 16, having led 4–0. He defeated Mark Davis
Mark Davis (snooker player)
Mark Davis is an English professional snooker player from St. Leonards in Sussex, England. The highlights of his career so far have been winning the Benson & Hedges Championship in 2002 – earning him an appearance at the Masters – and winning the 2009 Six-red World Championship.- Career :Davis...
and Dominic Dale
Dominic Dale
-External links:**...
to reach the 2009 World Championship, guaranteeing his return to the top 32. He summarised the change in his game by commenting "This year, people have had to beat me. I haven't given matches away"
Personality
Analysis of his body language at the 2006 World Championships found apparent flaws in his attitude and temperament. Holt finds it difficult to re-focus after playing a bad shot. This can lead to dips in form that may last for two to three frames. He appears to need confidence to achieve his best results. Despite frequently losing final-frame matches, Holt has stated that he's 'not a choker', and that he just lacks concentration.He has been docked frames for swearing during matches, and was fined for throwing up chocolate early in the 2006/2007 season during a second round match. Holt is also infamous for conceding the deciding frame (while level at 4–4) in a China Open match in 2005 against Joe Perry
Joe Perry (snooker player)
-External links:*...
, while there were still 13 reds left available to pot. On a similar theme, his nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
“The Hitman” comes from his penchant for hitting the table in anger, which once resulted in a broken knuckle.
He also DJs in Greece as a hobby during the close season, and is a qualified personal trainer.
Minor-ranking event finals: 2 (2 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 2010 | Prague Classic Euro Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 6 -Section 2:-Section 3:-Section 4:-Section 5:-Section 6:-Section 7:-Section 8:-Finals:-Century breaks:* 147 Rory McLeod* 136, 117, 106 Ryan Day* 135, 116 Joe Perry* 132, 120, 100 Mark Allen* 132 Joe Jogia* 132 Mark Selby... |
 Scotland |
4–3 |
| Winner | 2. | 2011 | Players Tour Championship – Event 10 Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 10 The Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 10 minor-ranking snooker tournament took place over 27–30 November 2011, at the World Snooker Academy, Sheffield, England.... |
 Wales |
4–2 |