Michael Holt (snooker)

Infobox Snooker player
Name = Michael Holt (MIHO)


Caption =
Born = Birth date and age|1978|8|7|mf=y
Birthplace =
Nationality = flagicon|England English
Nickname = The Hitman
Professional = 1996–
High ranking = 21 (2006/07)
Current rank = 34
Prize money =
High break = 145 (2005)
Ranking wins =
Other wins =
World champ =

Michael Holt is a professional snooker player from Nottingham, England. As of 2008, he has reached the quarter finals of three ranking tournaments - the 1999 UK Championship, the 2003 LG Cup, and the 2005 Grand Prix.

Career

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 13-10 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.

Michael almost qualified for the 2004 event - he was 9-5 ahead in his final qualifying match against Anthony Hamilton, before losing the next five frames to lose the match. He also lost in the final qualifying round in 2001 and 2002 [http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Europe/Global_England/eng_michael_holt.htm] .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 lost to eventual champion John Higgins in the first round in 2007 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2007/04/19/michael_holt_crucible_preview_2007_feature.shtml] . 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. The rest of 2007 was unspectacular, barring victory in the minor Dutch Open, which featured 7 of the top 32 of the time [http://www.worldsnooker.com/news_editorial-19092.htm] , 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.

Personality

Analysis of his body language at the 2006 World Championships found apparent flaws in his attitude and temperament. Fact|date=February 2007 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, Michael 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. Michael 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.

External links

* [http://www.worldsnooker.com/players_head_to_head-8270.htm Profile on worldsnooker.com]