Michael Holt (snooker player)

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Michael Holt
Born	August 7, 1978
Nationality	English
Nickname(s)	The Hitman
Professional	1996–
Highest ranking	21 (2006/07)
2006/07 ranking	21
Highest break	145 (2005)

Michael Holt is a professional snooker player from Nottingham, England. As of 2006, he has reached the quarter finals of two ranking tournaments.

In the 2005 World Snooker Championship, he beat his friend (the late) Paul Hunter in the first round. In the second round he faced Steve Davis, losing 13-10 after having led 8-2. Michael almost qualified for the 2004 event, and was 9-5 ahead in his final qualifying match against Anthony Hamilton, before losing the next five frames to lose the match. Michael has stated that he's 'not a choker', and that he just lacks concentration. 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. For the 2005 tournament he used eBay to auction the sponsorship space on his waistcoat to Cabaret, a Nottingham nightspot.

Michael is also infamous for conceding the deciding frame (while leveled at 4-4) in a China Open match in 2005 against Joe Perry, while there were still all but two reds left available to pot.

Analysis of his body language at the 2006 World Championships found apparent flaws in his attitude and temperament. ^{[citation needed]} 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.

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. He was fined for throwing up chocolate early this season during a second round match.