Michael Holt will not be returning to the Crucible this year after losing 10-6 to world No. 88 Xing Zihao in the opening round of World Championship qualifying in Sheffield.
The former Shoot Out winner reached the last 16 in 2016 after stunning 2010 winner Neil Robertson 10-6 in the first round, but won’t be back on the sport’s biggest stage this year after world No. 90 Xing proved too strong at the English Institute of Sport on Monday.
19-year-old Xing produced breaks of 61, 58, 86, 63, 82 and 98 as he led from start to finish with former world No. 20 Holt running in four 50-plus breaks.
Holt had secured a return to the professional circuit in January, earning a fresh two-year card for next season via the Q Tour, after dropping off the main circuit in 2022, but his hopes of another crack at the world title must wait until next season.
Kendrick hit two centuries before completing victory by winning the 17th frame on a re-spotted black.
Qualifying is staged between April 8-17 with 16 qualifiers joining the top 16 seeds in the final 32 for the Crucible in Sheffield.
The 48th World Championship begins on Saturday 20 April and runs until Monday 6 May.
Latest World Championship results
- Andrew Pagett 10-9 Andy Lee
- Ross Muir 10-9 Cheung Ka Wai
- Jenson Kendrick 10-7 Bai Yulu
- Xing Zihao 10-6 Michael Holt
- Liam Davies 10-3 Ryan Thomerson
- Rory Thor 10-2 Hamza Ilyas
- Ian Burns 10-1 Dean Young