Michael Holt loses tour card after 26-year stay on main circuit
Michael Holt suffered a 4-2 defeat to John Astley as his bid to retain his World Snooker Tour card failed at the final hurdle at Q School in Sheffield on Thursday. Having dropped to 65 in the world following a 6-3 loss to Tom Ford in the World Championship qualifiers in April, Holt needed to overcome Astley to earn a fresh two-year tour card in the finals of event three at Ponds Forge having turned professional in 1996. Ad/> Gateshead potter Astley – who defeated defending champion 6-2 Neil Robertson as an amateur at the UK Championship in November – made breaks of 52 and 78 in his win over Holt, who had levelled at 2-2 from 2-0 behind.


