Alfie Burden ends Michael Holt's hopes of World Snooker Tour return with stunning comeback win at Q School

Alfie Burden recovered from trailing 3-0 to win four straight frames in a 4-3 victory over Michael Holt at Q School that crushed the Nottingham player's dream of a return to the World Snooker Tour circuit this season. Having lost his place among the elite a year ago, former Shoot Out winner Holt seemed on course to reach the final day of Event Two at the Morningside Arena in Leicester as he opened with 52 before winning the next two frames of the last-32 clash. Ad But recent World Seniors finalist Burden showed his determination to earn a fresh two-year card after finishing outside of the top 64 last season with runs of 62, 51 and a closing 66 enough to edge past Holt, who lost a tight sixth frame on the final few balls.

SnookerBai wins black-ball thriller to reach last 32 at Q School, Holt advancesYESTERDAY AT 06:27 Burden progresses to a match with Duane Jones in the last 16 on Tuesday morning needing two more wins to earn his tour card, while Holt is set to return to a coaching role. Women's world finalist Bai Yulu was also on the wrong end of a comeback as the 19-year-old led Simon Bedford 3-0 only to lose the next four frames in crashing out in the fourth round. Bai compiled 68 in the second frame, but fell away as her opponent produced 73 in the fifth frame in advancing to the final-day drama.

Bedford will meet Leicester's Louis Heathcote, who made three 50-plus breaks in a 4-2 win over Ben Fortey. «It is the worst thing ever. I can’t describe what it is like out there,» said Heathcote.

«I have been a professional for the last four years and that is my full time job, that is my life. So if I don’t get through this week, I don’t have a job and I don’t know what I am going to do with my life. »Everything is riding on