Michael Holt continued his advantageous run on the 2026 Shenzhen Open, reaching Friday’s quarter-finals with a 5-2 defeat of Kyren Wilson within the final 16.
It marks the Hitman’s first run to the last-eight stage of a rating occasion for the reason that 2024 UK Championship.
Holt, now aged 48 and nonetheless producing outcomes a full three many years after he first turned skilled in 1996, beat Xiao Guodong 5-4 and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-0 within the earlier rounds earlier than eclipsing former world champion Wilson.
The previous Shoot Out champion defied a break of 54 from his opponent to pinch the primary body and gained the next two as properly to ascertain a cushion he would by no means relinquish.
Certainly, it was this sort of begin the place he punished errors from his esteemed opponent that he attributed to his capability to dispatch a 3rd higher-ranked participant in a row this event.
“Once you play these prime gamers as a participant ranked the place I’m, the way it goes is that they’re in all probability a bit calmer than you initially,” world no.46 Holt defined to the World Snooker Tour.
“They often begin okay. But when they do miss, you’ve bought to take your probabilities. You’ve bought to indicate them that you simply’re prepared for it.”
“After which when you do get on prime of them, they may miss. Typically they do miss – they’re human beings.
“Then you definitely’ve bought to indicate them that you could go once more and hold potting. I did that at this time, I used to be fairly good.
“You need to rating closely in opposition to gamers like that, as a result of if he senses weak spot, then they’ll simply roll over you.
“I’m actually happy with myself, as a result of I’ve mentioned it for years that I can play the sport correctly. It’s nearly doing it extra persistently.
“I felt calm, my perspective was good. It’s been good for all of the matches, so I’m excited.
“I’m skilled,” Holt, who can also be a snooker coach, added. “I solely look 28, however I’ve really been round fairly a very long time. I’ve to try to use that have.”
“Simply telling myself to be calm within the second, as a result of that’s finally what the very best gamers are higher at.
“After they get an opportunity, they will simply keep in that second and pot the balls.
“There are a great deal of gamers who can pot the balls, however clearly staying calm in that scenario is the important thing.
“That’s what I’ve completed properly, and I’m going to try to hold doing it.”
Holt has a good chance of extending his journey in Shenzhen, with a primary semi-final since 2020 on the playing cards when he takes on Yuan Sijun on Friday.
The highest half of the draw additionally options Chris Wakelin – arguably enjoying the very best snooker of anybody thus far this week – and Jimmy Robertson.
The opposite facet is totally stacked with star high quality as 4 of the very best gamers on the planet proceed to vie for a spot in Sunday’s ultimate.
Judd Trump and Mark Selby conflict in a heavyweight battle, whereas Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy cross paths once more in a repeat of their epic World Championship ultimate from Might.
2026 Shenzhen Open
Yuan Sijun vs Michael Holt (12:30pm BST)
Jimmy Robertson vs Chris Wakelin (07:00am BST)
Judd Trump vs Mark Selby (07:00am BST)
Shaun Murphy vs Wu Yize (12:30pm BST)
Featured picture credit score: depositphotos.com
