Michael Holt suffers setback in bid to rejoin World Snooker Tour with Q School defeat to Hayden Staniland

Michael Holt suffered a surprise 4-2 defeat to Hayden Staniland in the third round of Event One at snooker Q School in Leicester on Monday night as his hopes of regaining his professional tour card suffered a setback.

‘The Hitman’ had enjoyed a solid 4-1 win over Jeff Cundy in his tournament opener on Sunday, but was dumped out of the competition in his second match at the Morningside Arena chasing four more wins to earn a two-year card for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.

It leaves the former Shoot Out winner needing a run to the last four of the second event which begins on Thursday.

Holt has spent a year off the professional circuit, focussing on coaching amateur players, after failing to regain his tour card at Q School last June after first turning professional in 1996.

Staniland completed his win after midnight to secure a last-32 meeting with former Welsh Open finalist Andrew Higginson, who edged out Billy Castle 4-3.

Women’s British Open champion Bai Yulu must also return for Event Two after losing 4-3 to Craig Steadman having led 2-0 and 3-2.

Barry Pinches won the battle of the veterans with a 4-2 success against Peter Lines to reach the last 32 while Alexander Ursenbacher continued his quest to remain on the main circuit with a 4-1 win over Daan Leyssen.

World Seniors finalist Alfie Burden despatched James Lee by the same scoreline to set up a meeting with Louis Heathcote.

Elsewhere, Finland’s national champion Robin Hull compiled the highest break of this year’s tournament so far, but his sparkling 135 was not enough to prevent a 4-3 defeat to Jamie O’Neill.

There are two tournaments with the four semi-finalists from each earning coveted spots on the professional circuit.

Event One runs from Friday 26 May until Wednesday 31 May with the second competition starting on Thursday 1 June until Tuesday 6 June.

A player entering in round one will have to win six matches to earn their card with those coming in at the second stage needing five wins from the best-of-seven frame contests.

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