‘Luca Brecel and Judd Trump don’t cue straight’ – Michael Holt in fascinating revelation about snooker world champions

Michael ‘The Hitman’ Holt has spent the past 12 months coaching snooker since losing his professional tour card in disappointing fashion a year ago, but has used the enforced time out to learn a few lessons of his own.

The former Shoot Out winner will join a 208-player scramble at Q School at Leicester’s Morningside Arena next week (May 26-6 June) as he bids to return to the main circuit after failing to regain his tour card for the 2022/23 campaign.

Holt has spent time away from the tour wisely in coaching the finer points of the sport, but the Nottingham man would dearly love to put that theory into practice in the heat of battle. Eight cards are up for grabs at this year’s Q School, the first event of the new campaign.

The former world No. 20 believes you only have to look at world champion Luca Brecel and Masters winner Judd Trump to see the importance of self-belief rather than technical excellence on the green baize.

“The thing is that this Holy Grail of technique doesn’t even exist in the professional game. That tells you everything you need to know. I am dragging people away from that and I’ve had some good results. It seems to be helping people.

“I teach them how to play not the way to do it. That is what you need to teach. You could have the perfect technique, but if you don’t know how to play then it is no good and you will cue straight to the wrong position.

“Most of the tour don’t cue straight. Judd Trump and Luca Brecel don’t cue straight. They are alright! What they are all good at, is they can play. They know how to play a shot and where to hit it.”

44-year-old Holt admits dropping off the tour was a “disaster” but has decided to front up his disappointment by putting himself in the firing line again next week.

“It was a disaster dropping off, but the analogy I would use is having a stone in your shoe. It feels really big at the time, but when you stop and take your shoe off you realise it is only small,” he said.

“I’m sure if I was a single 25-year-old it would have been a bigger thing, snooker was all my life was at that point. Now it is a part of my life that I want to get back. I have a wife and kids now.

“It has given me time to explore stuff I simply wouldn’t have done if I was on the tour. If I can get back on then it could turn out to be one of the best things to ever happen to me.

“I have to get back on to feel like that though, because ultimately I am dying to compete on the tour. I believe I can still play to the level I need to do well.

“I’m probably about a week into the practice. I’m alright and playing well. I’m on course to be where I want to be.

“It doesn’t take long to be playing alright, it is just the mentality side and getting into a rhythm of playing well. That process is happening and when Q School comes round, it is up to me to throw the dice and give it a go.”

Brecel will be among the favourites with world No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Judd Trump among the leading men who competed in last year’s event.

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