Michael Holt, who dropped off the World Snooker Tour between 2022 and 2024, stunned 10th seed Gary Wilson to move into the last 16 of the UK Championship for the first time since 1999.
Holt, 46, topped the Q Tour standings last season to earn his place back on the tour, is ranked 98th in the world and had to fight through four qualifying rounds.
He and Wilson shared the opening two frames, before Holt edged the third on the black. Breaks of 69 and 95 took Holt one away from victory and he looked on course – only to snooker himself after potting the brown with three balls remaining.
But Wilson could not capitalise on the chances as Holt potted a long-range pink to secure a superb victory. Holt will now play 2024 world runner-up Jak Jones, who defeated 2023 Crucible champion Luca Brecel.
“This time last year I was getting ready to go to Q Tour 5 in Brighton, which I won, and now a year later I’m in the last 16 of the UK Championship so that’s something I’m really pleased with,” said Holt.
“My game is there, it has always been there, I just have to let it out. To be in this arena, I loved it. The crowd were great and this is a brilliant tournament.”
On dropping off the tour in 2022, he added: “You always believe [you can get back] but you never know what’s going to happen. Being off the tour did hurt but it was one of the best things to happen to me.
“I’ve always appreciated it [being a professional] and you realise you are privileged. I dropped off the tour and the world kept turning. The way I got back on was a confidence boost. I’m enjoying it – the nerves are always there.”
Brecel, seeded seventh, became the sixth seed to lose in three days. He was 42-0 ahead in the deciding frame, only for Jones to make a 66 break to snatch a 6-5 victory after he had been 5-3 down.
“I thought I’d played pretty decently from 5-3 down,” said Jones. “You always want to do well in the biggest tournaments and this is the second-biggest tournament on the tour and I felt good towards the end.”