Holt Ends Higgins winning streak

Michael Holt won the biggest title of his career so far by beating John Higgins 4-3 in the final of Euro Players Tour Championship event six in Prague.

The World No 42 from Nottingham, a pro for 14 years, ended a run of 13 consecutive victories for Higgins, who returned to competitive snooker in style last week by winning EPTC5 in Germany.

Holt, age 32, became the 12th different winner in 12 events on the PTC series and leapt from 96th place on the Order of Merit into the top 24, thereby qualifying for the Grand Finals in March. He goes home with 10,000 Euros and is 2,000 ranking points better off.

"I've always said that I can play the game and I'm good enough to win things. In fact I stopped saying it because people thought I was lying," said Holt, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals of a full ranking event. "I just needed some confidence and to be able to handle the situation when it mattered.

"I did that today - I didn't get nervous or twitch a ball in the final, I felt great. I couldn't have had a tougher draw as I had to beat Stephen Maguire, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy to get to the final. It's definitely the best moment of my career and hopefully I can kick on now and get up the rankings."

Holt dedicated victory to his dad Mick, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered two months ago. "He's very poorly and it's going to take him a long time to get better," said Holt. "He'll dig in like I did today. I can't wait to take the trophy home and show it to him."

Murphy finished top of the Order of Merit despite losing 4-3 in the semi-finals to Holt, from 3-1 up.

The full list of the 24 qualifiers for the PTC Grand Finals will be announced shortly.

The Hitman Floors Murphy

Michael Holt the Hitman, made a powerful come back in his match against Shaun Murphy he was 3-1 down and looked as though once again he had come so far but was to fail reaching a place in the final. Michael Came back hard and ended up winning 4-3 to book his place in the final against John Higgins. If the Hitman beats John Higgins he will earn himself a place in the top 24 in the order of merit.  

Hotline to cut Bribes

The John Higgins case is still a bleeding wound for the WPBSA, his future is now forever tarnished with doubts of his game play and whether or not he has thrown a game for money.  As Higgins returned the professional game play in Hamm at the EPTC 5 event, the WPBSA launched its anti- corruption hotline. This means that players can report any suspicious activity that could damage the snooker business, its credibility and transparency or even the honesty of a certain snooker player.
The WPBSA disciplinary chief David Douglas said: "It is a hotline and email service for the players that is anonymous or otherwise. The players can use it to report suspicious activities or to inquire about information about the rules and regulations. It is a case of the WPBSA being pro-active and making sure we are not arrogant to think that corruption is not a part, or could not be a part, of the sport."
 The integrity unit sounds like a great idea and will hopefully bring back the well respected name of the gentlemans sport, but there will always be the shadow of dout and with two players still being under suspicion but being aloowed to play, can th egame be fully cleaned up?

Higgins beats Murphy

 

The EPTC in Hamm welcomed John Higgings back to form as though the last 6 or so months haven't happened. Though fans are less than impressed at his return to the game, after casing it into disrepute, due to taking pay offs to throw games. Higgins returned to take the EPTC number one as he beat Shaun Murphy 4-2, looking throughout his seven matches as a pure winner, he really does have the fighting winning spirit back but does he still have the fans? That's an unknown at the moment.