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

ByEurosport

Updated 06/06/2023 at 07:36 GMT

The final day of the 2023 Q School in Leicester will see four more World Snooker Tour cards handed out with a mixture of youth and experience chasing a place among the sport's elite at the Morningside Arena. Alfie Burden, Rory McLeod, Louis Heathcote and Iulian Boiko are among those competing in the last 16. Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.

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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.

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.

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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 this week for me. I am trying to give every ball 100%.

“I don’t think I will get much sleep tonight. I am just going to go out tomorrow and give it everything I’ve got. I will leave nothing on the table and give it my absolute all.

"Hopefully, that will be enough.”

Former Crucible qualifier Rory McLeod hit breaks of 90 and 54 in a 4-2 win over Lewis Ullah to remain in the hunt, with 17-year-old Ukraine talent Iulian Boiko enjoying three breaks over 70 in a 4-1 dismissal of James Lee.

He next takes on former World Seniors champion Peter Lines, who completed a 4-0 whitewash of Chris Totten.

The last-16 matches and quarter-finals on Tuesday will determine the four winners from Event Two.

Andrew Pagett, Alexander Ursenbacher, Andrew Higginson and Liam Pullen claimed places on the main World Snooker Tour circuit from Event One.

A player entering in round one has to win six matches to earn their card with those coming in at the second stage needing five wins from the best-of-seven-frame contests.

Four tour cards are also available from the 128-player Asia and Oceania Q School events which run between 1-12 June and are open to citizens of the regions.