Why Michael Holt has turned to childhood snooker hero who inflicted one of his worst defeats in Crucible comeback epic - 'I basically imploded'
Published 26/06/2026 at 14:52 GMT+1
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Michael Holt is known to millions of snooker fans as 'The Hitman,' but the popular Nottingham potter will never forget the match when he was ruthlessly taken out by his childhood idol at the World Championship.
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Even if he would rather forget about the whole ghastly experience.
The former Shoot Out winner once led six-time world champion Steve Davis 8-2 in the Crucible last 16 in 2005, but managed to blow up as Davis won 11 of the next 13 frames to complete a glorious 13-10 win in a contest that saw both men hit two centuries.
"I don’t talk about that match [against Steve]," Holt told TNT Sports. "I was 8-2 up. I basically imploded.
"I was a bit petulant and somehow lost an 8-2 lead because of me being an idiot."
Holt, who first turned professional in 1996, lost his tour card in 2022, but reclaimed his spot on the main circuit two years later via the Q Tour.
He has since moved up to 51st in the latest provisional rankings after qualifying for the Wuhan Open and producing the first 147 of his career against Mark Joyce in the China Open qualifiers.
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"Steve Davis, who has mentored me a bit for a few years, said to me I should be more proud of that," said Holt on World Snooker Tour.
Holt was also coached by 1979 world champion Terry Griffiths, but has turned to Davis to improve his mental approach.
He will face Mark Allen in the last 64 at the Wuhan Open, August 23-29, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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"I still want to do better. I am never satisfied, so I'm working on a few things," the 47-year-old explained. "I had a decent start at the qualifiers this month, I played well in the two matches I won.
"You just have to keep going, there is no magic formula, just keep potting. We (Davis) exchange texts now and then. I'm old enough and ugly enough to know what I'm doing. But a few words from him really help.
"He was my hero when I was a kid, and they say never meet your heroes because they might disappoint you, but he's more of a hero to me now than ever.
"So just to get advice from him means a lot. We have spent a lot of time together socially over the years. When he tells you to do something, you do it."
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