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Q1. What has been your favourite competition to play in to date?
Got to be the world championship at the crucible.
Q2. Have you always played with the same cue, or have you changed it over the years?
Ive had this one since i was 16, i had a few really bad ones before my dad got this one made for my birthday.
Q3. Who is your all time snooker hero?
Got to be steve davis, he was my favourite player as a kid.
Q4. How often do you practice and who do you practice with?
Most days for about 4-6 hrs depending on if im on my own or not. We(players) need good practice so you end up practicing with the players in your area.For me thats, dave roe, nigel bond, mark selby, joe perry but even go as far as preston to ian mcculloch and essex to stuart bingham and barry hawkins.
Q5. We have around 50 junior players here at the club do you have any tips or advice for them?
To enjoy the game, experiment, try and screw the ball back as far as you can, try to put loads of side on. Its how you will learn what it does. I see so many juniors doing line up after line up, there is a place for line up and match play but untill you HAVE to win HAVE A GO!!!
Q6. What tips do you use? Elks, Blues Diamonds or Talismam, and what is your preferred method of shaping / fitting you tip?
I use elk master 11mms. I have mine in a mushroom shape, I\'d love to have them flush and neat but cant because when i started to play, being clueless(some say i still am) i just stook one on without shaping it or anything. Ive got used to it now and cant change!!
Q7. If you could play 3 frames with any person past or present and they don\'t have to be a professional snooker player who would it be? And why?
Ian brown...hes my hero!
Q8. What snooker websites do you visit on a regular basis?
W.S.A. site, Global Snooker.
Q9. From what you have said in your diary entry\'s on World Snooker, you enjoy cooking. What is your favourite food? and can you give our readers a recipe to try out?
Everything, i love eating, but currys and italian take some beating.
Chilli prawns with rocket-What you\'ll need;
3 glugs of olive oil,handfull of raw prawns, clove of garlic chopped, 2 teaspoons of chilli flakes, juice of half a lemon, big handfull of rocket, small wine glass of white wine, 2 dessert spoons of sundried tomato puree, portion of spaghetti. Right, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the garlic and chilli for 2mins then add prawns for a few mins. put spaghetti on. add the wine and tomato puree to pan and simmer untill reduced or spaghetti ready. Drain pasta, add with the rocket and lemon juice to the prawns and serve....yummy!
Q10. Is there any snooker innovation that has really caught your eye but has not yet made it to or past the WPBSA board?
Not that ive seen.
Q11. With so many great young players out there on the pro-am circuit do you think that some of the smaller competitions should be if not televised but broadcasted over the internet?
Any exposure would be beneficial i think. It would probably only be on the internet though because tv time is very hard to get.
Q12. Out of all the Snooker Halls around the UK which you have played exhibition matches and pro-am competitions do you have a favourite or preferred club?
Ive been to loads, good and bad but my club, pegasus s.c in arnold takes some beating. Its not to hot or cold so my table always plays well.
Q13. Have you heard about Truelevel.net and if so what do you think about the service they offer?
I have heard of it and think anything that can improve the level of tables is good........but what will i blame when i miss?????
Q14. You are one of the few professional snooker players to have a myspace account (www.myspace.com/hitmanholt) and you actually administer the account yourself not like Ronnie who leaves it all up to the people that run his website, what response from fans do you get through your account and do you have plans on building your own dedicated website in the future?
Its all me, I "pimped" my profile. I speak to quite a few fans and got back in touch with loads of friends. so if anybody has a myspace add me! One of my "friends" on my space has built me a site, her names melenie and theres a link on her page.
Q15. You made your debut at The Crucible two years ago beating the late Paul Hunter 10-8 but then got knocked out in the second round by Steve Davis 13-10, last year you were knocked out in the first round by Peter Ebdon. With such fierce competition for top 16 tanking positions this year can we see you making it to the final stages?
You never know with me. Im very inconsistant and sometimes a little temperamental!! But i know i can beat anyone so if my heads right ive always got a chance, I feel as though im massively under acheiving due to my head, never really challenged for a ranking title which i think im capeble of so hopefully start on the 25th in sheffield!!!
Q16. Who have you got your money on in the Ronnie O\'Sullivan v Ding Junhui first round match?
Mmmm thats a toughy but if i had to have a bet it would be ronnie. Hes a genius, its hard to back against him especially with it being dings first time at the crucible, but ding is fantastic aswell so who knows?
Q17. World snooker are trying to get more and more people to watch the game and gain interest, the addition of the 888.com sponsorship has helped the plight a great deal I think but the TV coverage could be improved drastically! I mean The Welsh Open was on the BBC but only on BBC Wales (No good if you don\'t have SKY) and The China Open was only on Euro Sport (Again only if you have sky or cable) even then the final was aired 7 hours after the match, what do you think about this? should The BBC be showing all of the competitions in their entirety? even if only on interactive or over the net.
From what i know the bbc can only give so many hours to any one sport or genre and we dont do bad to be fair but the online thing could work. I think the welsh open was online.
Q18. The professional referees like Eirian Williams and Jan Verhass have to go by the rules of The WSA when doing interviews and the cannot comment on particular matches, other referees decisions and they can\'t even say if they have a favourite player, so do you have a favourite referee?
I think Eirian and jan are very good along with most of them.....and obviosly micheala! I love micheala! Theres a couple i\'d prefer not to have but that would be telling. Answers on a postcard!
Q19. Do you have any friends or family that travel to the competitions with you apart from your manager Dave?
Some say Dave is family!! But my dad goes to most events, maybe not China though, thats abit far!
Q20. Are you one of those players that needs a bit of quiet before you play your games or are you a Ken Doherty who is in the media centre chatting to the press and watching the horse racing before he plays?
I have a practice then have 5 mins on my own listening to something like anarchy in the uk by the sex pistols!
Q21. So what is the story behind you and your Girlfriends cat Mr Scruff?
My Ex-girlfriends(we\'re still friends) cat is called mr scruff after her favourite D\'j!
Q22. What do you think about the proposition that China will add 10 events to the snooker calendar?
The more the merrier!
Here are a few questions from the members of TheSnookerForum.com
Q1. chasmmi: Have you been doing anything to change your mental approach to matches?
Not really but steve davis told me to try yoga.....wonder why?
Q2. missneworleans: How did you feel when you beaten Ronnie O\'Sullivan?
Brilliant, it was nice to eventually beat him after he\'d spanked me a few times. I was just lulling him into a false sense of security....obviously!
Q3. Blondie: When are you doing to be doing you next instalment of The Hitman Diary on World Snooker? The last instalment being on the 25 of January.
Im sure ive done one since, I can remember talking about qualifying for sheffield so must have. Should be doing one in the next few days so keep a look out!
Q4. Semih: What was the best match you have ever played in?
Played so many its hard to remember but one i remember because i ws so young was in my first year as a pro when I beat dene o\'kane in a qualifier and in the last 4 frames had 90, 100,100 90. He said he\'d played them all and no one had played better against him, which was nice, he even wrote "a star is born" on the match sheet..........how wrong could he be????lol I think Eirian williams referee\'d it!
Q5. Semih: What was the worst match you have ever played in and why?
Again theres been a few, try to forget them but sometimes when one player misses the other one sort of "catches" it and starts to miss aswell. Which can be frustrating.
Q6. Semih: What was your highest personal practise break?
147!
Q7. Semih: How many hours a day do you practise, generally?
4-6!
Q8. Semih: Who do you practice with? and do you change your practice routines when a big competition like the 888.com World Championship is approaching?
David Roe(always using side), Nigel Bond(machine), Ian Mcculloch(he never stops talking), Mark Selby(always telling jokes), Joe Perry(we both say moan unlucky we are), Barry Hawkins(nicest guy...ever), Neil Robertson(luckiest player...ever!) Always try to prepare well for every match!
Q9. Semih: Who is your favourite player ranked below you?
All of em!
Q10. Semih: Who your favourite player ranked above you?
None of them.....there all really lucky!!!! lol!
Q11. Semih: Who is your favourite past player (not on main tour)?
Tony knowles.
Q12. Semih: do you always call one of "heads" / "tails" or do you vary it, when the ref tosses the coin?
"Tails never fails".. a term im beginning to not believe, I havent broke off since the all england junior final in 1996!
Q13. Semih: Have you heard any good snooker rumours recently?
The person who does the draws is a derby county fan and keeps making me draw people in form!!! Also i once registered on the snooker forum and a member called "semih" was horrible to me because he didnt think i was me....so simih...it was ME!
Q14. April madness: Do you have any lucky charms that you keep on your person when playing in competitions?
Not really im not superstitious at all.
Q15. Blondie: Do you speak any other languages?
Yes Spanish, i lived there for two years between the ages of 9-11.
Got to be the world championship at the crucible.
Q2. Have you always played with the same cue, or have you changed it over the years?
Ive had this one since i was 16, i had a few really bad ones before my dad got this one made for my birthday.
Q3. Who is your all time snooker hero?
Got to be steve davis, he was my favourite player as a kid.
Q4. How often do you practice and who do you practice with?
Most days for about 4-6 hrs depending on if im on my own or not. We(players) need good practice so you end up practicing with the players in your area.For me thats, dave roe, nigel bond, mark selby, joe perry but even go as far as preston to ian mcculloch and essex to stuart bingham and barry hawkins.
Q5. We have around 50 junior players here at the club do you have any tips or advice for them?
To enjoy the game, experiment, try and screw the ball back as far as you can, try to put loads of side on. Its how you will learn what it does. I see so many juniors doing line up after line up, there is a place for line up and match play but untill you HAVE to win HAVE A GO!!!
Q6. What tips do you use? Elks, Blues Diamonds or Talismam, and what is your preferred method of shaping / fitting you tip?
I use elk master 11mms. I have mine in a mushroom shape, I\'d love to have them flush and neat but cant because when i started to play, being clueless(some say i still am) i just stook one on without shaping it or anything. Ive got used to it now and cant change!!
Q7. If you could play 3 frames with any person past or present and they don\'t have to be a professional snooker player who would it be? And why?
Ian brown...hes my hero!
Q8. What snooker websites do you visit on a regular basis?
W.S.A. site, Global Snooker.
Q9. From what you have said in your diary entry\'s on World Snooker, you enjoy cooking. What is your favourite food? and can you give our readers a recipe to try out?
Everything, i love eating, but currys and italian take some beating.
Chilli prawns with rocket-What you\'ll need;
3 glugs of olive oil,handfull of raw prawns, clove of garlic chopped, 2 teaspoons of chilli flakes, juice of half a lemon, big handfull of rocket, small wine glass of white wine, 2 dessert spoons of sundried tomato puree, portion of spaghetti. Right, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the garlic and chilli for 2mins then add prawns for a few mins. put spaghetti on. add the wine and tomato puree to pan and simmer untill reduced or spaghetti ready. Drain pasta, add with the rocket and lemon juice to the prawns and serve....yummy!
Q10. Is there any snooker innovation that has really caught your eye but has not yet made it to or past the WPBSA board?
Not that ive seen.
Q11. With so many great young players out there on the pro-am circuit do you think that some of the smaller competitions should be if not televised but broadcasted over the internet?
Any exposure would be beneficial i think. It would probably only be on the internet though because tv time is very hard to get.
Q12. Out of all the Snooker Halls around the UK which you have played exhibition matches and pro-am competitions do you have a favourite or preferred club?
Ive been to loads, good and bad but my club, pegasus s.c in arnold takes some beating. Its not to hot or cold so my table always plays well.
Q13. Have you heard about Truelevel.net and if so what do you think about the service they offer?
I have heard of it and think anything that can improve the level of tables is good........but what will i blame when i miss?????
Q14. You are one of the few professional snooker players to have a myspace account (www.myspace.com/hitmanholt) and you actually administer the account yourself not like Ronnie who leaves it all up to the people that run his website, what response from fans do you get through your account and do you have plans on building your own dedicated website in the future?
Its all me, I "pimped" my profile. I speak to quite a few fans and got back in touch with loads of friends. so if anybody has a myspace add me! One of my "friends" on my space has built me a site, her names melenie and theres a link on her page.
Q15. You made your debut at The Crucible two years ago beating the late Paul Hunter 10-8 but then got knocked out in the second round by Steve Davis 13-10, last year you were knocked out in the first round by Peter Ebdon. With such fierce competition for top 16 tanking positions this year can we see you making it to the final stages?
You never know with me. Im very inconsistant and sometimes a little temperamental!! But i know i can beat anyone so if my heads right ive always got a chance, I feel as though im massively under acheiving due to my head, never really challenged for a ranking title which i think im capeble of so hopefully start on the 25th in sheffield!!!
Q16. Who have you got your money on in the Ronnie O\'Sullivan v Ding Junhui first round match?
Mmmm thats a toughy but if i had to have a bet it would be ronnie. Hes a genius, its hard to back against him especially with it being dings first time at the crucible, but ding is fantastic aswell so who knows?
Q17. World snooker are trying to get more and more people to watch the game and gain interest, the addition of the 888.com sponsorship has helped the plight a great deal I think but the TV coverage could be improved drastically! I mean The Welsh Open was on the BBC but only on BBC Wales (No good if you don\'t have SKY) and The China Open was only on Euro Sport (Again only if you have sky or cable) even then the final was aired 7 hours after the match, what do you think about this? should The BBC be showing all of the competitions in their entirety? even if only on interactive or over the net.
From what i know the bbc can only give so many hours to any one sport or genre and we dont do bad to be fair but the online thing could work. I think the welsh open was online.
Q18. The professional referees like Eirian Williams and Jan Verhass have to go by the rules of The WSA when doing interviews and the cannot comment on particular matches, other referees decisions and they can\'t even say if they have a favourite player, so do you have a favourite referee?
I think Eirian and jan are very good along with most of them.....and obviosly micheala! I love micheala! Theres a couple i\'d prefer not to have but that would be telling. Answers on a postcard!
Q19. Do you have any friends or family that travel to the competitions with you apart from your manager Dave?
Some say Dave is family!! But my dad goes to most events, maybe not China though, thats abit far!
Q20. Are you one of those players that needs a bit of quiet before you play your games or are you a Ken Doherty who is in the media centre chatting to the press and watching the horse racing before he plays?
I have a practice then have 5 mins on my own listening to something like anarchy in the uk by the sex pistols!
Q21. So what is the story behind you and your Girlfriends cat Mr Scruff?
My Ex-girlfriends(we\'re still friends) cat is called mr scruff after her favourite D\'j!
Q22. What do you think about the proposition that China will add 10 events to the snooker calendar?
The more the merrier!
Here are a few questions from the members of TheSnookerForum.com
Q1. chasmmi: Have you been doing anything to change your mental approach to matches?
Not really but steve davis told me to try yoga.....wonder why?
Q2. missneworleans: How did you feel when you beaten Ronnie O\'Sullivan?
Brilliant, it was nice to eventually beat him after he\'d spanked me a few times. I was just lulling him into a false sense of security....obviously!
Q3. Blondie: When are you doing to be doing you next instalment of The Hitman Diary on World Snooker? The last instalment being on the 25 of January.
Im sure ive done one since, I can remember talking about qualifying for sheffield so must have. Should be doing one in the next few days so keep a look out!
Q4. Semih: What was the best match you have ever played in?
Played so many its hard to remember but one i remember because i ws so young was in my first year as a pro when I beat dene o\'kane in a qualifier and in the last 4 frames had 90, 100,100 90. He said he\'d played them all and no one had played better against him, which was nice, he even wrote "a star is born" on the match sheet..........how wrong could he be????lol I think Eirian williams referee\'d it!
Q5. Semih: What was the worst match you have ever played in and why?
Again theres been a few, try to forget them but sometimes when one player misses the other one sort of "catches" it and starts to miss aswell. Which can be frustrating.
Q6. Semih: What was your highest personal practise break?
147!
Q7. Semih: How many hours a day do you practise, generally?
4-6!
Q8. Semih: Who do you practice with? and do you change your practice routines when a big competition like the 888.com World Championship is approaching?
David Roe(always using side), Nigel Bond(machine), Ian Mcculloch(he never stops talking), Mark Selby(always telling jokes), Joe Perry(we both say moan unlucky we are), Barry Hawkins(nicest guy...ever), Neil Robertson(luckiest player...ever!) Always try to prepare well for every match!
Q9. Semih: Who is your favourite player ranked below you?
All of em!
Q10. Semih: Who your favourite player ranked above you?
None of them.....there all really lucky!!!! lol!
Q11. Semih: Who is your favourite past player (not on main tour)?
Tony knowles.
Q12. Semih: do you always call one of "heads" / "tails" or do you vary it, when the ref tosses the coin?
"Tails never fails".. a term im beginning to not believe, I havent broke off since the all england junior final in 1996!
Q13. Semih: Have you heard any good snooker rumours recently?
The person who does the draws is a derby county fan and keeps making me draw people in form!!! Also i once registered on the snooker forum and a member called "semih" was horrible to me because he didnt think i was me....so simih...it was ME!
Q14. April madness: Do you have any lucky charms that you keep on your person when playing in competitions?
Not really im not superstitious at all.
Q15. Blondie: Do you speak any other languages?
Yes Spanish, i lived there for two years between the ages of 9-11.