English · Nottingham, England · Born 7 August 1978English professional snooker player known as 'The Hitman', who won the 2020 Snooker Shoot Out after 24 years on the professional tour.
Born in Nottingham, England, on 7 August 1978, Michael Holt turned professional for a single season in 1996/97 before rejoining the tour permanently in 1998, beginning what would become a career spanning more than two decades in the sport's middle-to-upper ranks. Holt reached a career-high ranking of world number 20 in 2013, helped by a run to the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, and reached the final of the Riga Masters in 2016. He finally claimed a maiden ranking title at the 2020 Snooker Shoot Out — a fast-format event well suited to his attacking game — beating Zhou Yuelong in the final, 24 years after first turning professional. He also won two minor-ranking Players Tour Championship events during his career. A notable giant-killer over the years, Holt recorded three victories over Ronnie O'Sullivan in ranking events during 2016 alone. He compiled over 250 career century breaks and qualified for the televised stages of the World Championship on eight occasions, twice reaching the last 16. Holt dropped off the main tour after the 2021/22 season but returned via Q Tour form in 2024, continuing to compete into his late 40s as one of the tour's most experienced professionals.
Winning a maiden ranking title after 24 years as a professional
How They Played
Attacking break-builder with a talent for upsetting higher-ranked opponents
Lasting Impact
A durable, long-serving professional and giant-killer known for upset wins over top players