Holt Makes History With First 147 of the 2026/27 Season at China Open Qualifiers
The Hitman Fires in a Perfect Frame on Day Two in Leicester
Michael Holt has wasted no time in making his mark on the new snooker season, compiling the first maximum break of the 2026/27 campaign during the China Open qualifiers at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester on Thursday. It took just two days of competitive action for someone to nail all 36 balls, and it was the Nottingham veteran — nicknamed The Hitman — who got there first, potting a flawless 147 in the third frame of his clash with Mark Joyce.
What makes this one particularly special is its personal significance for Holt. Despite a professional career spanning well over two decades on the World Snooker Tour, this was his first-ever maximum break at tour level. It arrived in some style too — the perfect frame formed part of a thoroughly dominant 6-1 victory over Joyce, with Holt also contributing breaks of 84, 71, 64, and 54 across the match. This was not a scrappy win followed by a fluke maximum; this was a complete, high-quality performance from a player who clearly means business heading into the new term.
Record-Breaking Context
The timing is worth reflecting on. The 2025/26 season set a new benchmark for maximum breaks on the professional circuit, with a staggering 24 perfect frames compiled across the campaign — a record for a single season. For Holt to contribute the first of 2026/27 within 48 hours of the season getting underway suggests the standard of century and maximum-break snooker is showing no signs of dropping off. Whether this season can challenge or surpass last year's record remains to be seen, but we're off to a flyer.
China Open Qualifiers: Third Round Takes Shape
Holt's maximum came on a productive day for several players pushing through to the third round of the qualifying competition. Ricky Walden and Marco Fu both progressed, as did Jamie Clarke, who sealed his place in the main tour after topping the Q Tour rankings last season — a fairytale return to the big time that he marked with a 6-4 win over Oliver Lines.
There was, however, disappointment for one of the game's most beloved figures. Jimmy White, the 10-time ranking event winner, was knocked out at this stage following a 6-2 defeat to Louis Heathcote. White's legion of fans will hope it's not the last we see of him this season, but it's a tough exit for the Whirlwind.
Drama came courtesy of Ross Muir, who found himself in the extraordinary position of leading Michal Szubarczyk 5-0, only to watch the young Polish player claw back frame after frame before Muir eventually held his nerve to win the deciding frame. That one will have taken a few years off both players' lives.
Also through to the next stage were Lyu Haotian, Sam Craigie, Ben Mertens, and Ishpreet Singh Chadha, while earlier in the day the first round was completed with amateur top-ups Peter Lines, Duane Jones, and Daniel Womersley all seizing their chance — beating Bai Yulu, Alexander Ursenbacher, and Mahmoud El Hareedy respectively. Credit where it's due: stepping into professional qualifying events as an amateur is no easy task.
What's Coming Up on Friday
The second round wraps up on Friday afternoon before the third round gets going in the evening session — and that's when things start to get really interesting. Higher seeds begin entering the draw, with Luca Brecel, Stuart Bingham, and Stephen Maguire all expected to be in action. For the players already through, facing that calibre of opponent will be the real test of whether their early-season form is the genuine article.
For betting purposes, keep an eye on Holt's odds to progress further — a player in this kind of touch, making 147s and knocking in multiple other big breaks in the same match, is absolutely one to respect in the outright qualifier markets. Check the latest prices on Bet365 and Betway under their snooker tournament specials, and look at frame-handicap markets if Holt's next match goes up. A man this hot deserves your attention.
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