Queste attività lavorative hanno poi finalmente lasciato posto a quella più amata di professionista del bridge.

 Vive da molti anni con la campionessa Michelle Brunner con la quale ha conquistato oltre che a diversi titoli nazionali, due bronzi ai Campionati a Squadre Miste del MEC (1981 e 1993), l'oro nello Swiss Team alle Olimpiadi degli Sport della Mente.

 Sempre ai Giochi IMSA ha conquistato l'oro nel 2003 e l'argento nel 2004 nel Coppie Open, mentre, agli Europei del 2005 ha preso il bronzo nelle Squadre Transnazionali Open del 2005.

Appena approdato nella categoria Senior ha vinto la Senior Bowl nel 2009, la  Rand Cup del 2010 e il Campionato Europeo Seniores del 2014 conquistando il titolo di Senior Grand Master e venendo eletto nella Casa della Fama del bridge europeo.

Nel 2019 ha guadagnato l'argento della D'Orsi Cup.

Nell'area di Manchester, dove vivono con Michelle a Stockport , una dozzina di km. a sud della metropoli, non c'è torneo che gli sfugga e nel 2015 ha vinto anche la NEC Cup.

William John Holland was born in 1950 in Burnley, Lancashire. 

John attended Harrogate Grammar School and then Manchester University. After leaving University, John worked as a purchaser and office manager for over twenty years, and afterwards worked as a computer programmer. After a small stint as a programmer, he became a full time professional bridge player.

In 1981, John won his first national title winning the Portland Pairs, the National Mixed Pairs, and then represented Great Britain in the Mixed Teams at the European Common Market Championships.

In 1987, John played for England in the Camrose Trophy and though he was not in a winning team, he has since been in winning teams with his bridge partner, Michelle Brunner. In 1993, John was part of the England team which came third in the European Common Market Championships, with Michelle and Rhona & Bernard Goldenfield.

With his bridge partner, Michelle, John has reached the finals of the Hubert Phillips Bowl, the National Mixed Teams Knockout twelve times and won many of them. Other wins include the NICKO (1990 & 1993); Pachabo Trophy (1986); the Garden Cities Teams (1998 & 2000); the National Swiss Teams (1992) and the Crockfords Trophy (2000).

At county level he has won virtually every event in the Manchester area and is a member of the Manchester Bridge Club. In 2015 he won NEC Cup too.

In 2009, John partnering Gunnar Hallberg won the Gold Medal in the Senior Bermuda Bowl together with the English team. In 2014 same partner and medal in the European Senior Championships earning the title of Senior Grand Master and being elected in the Hall of Fame of European bridge.

In 2019 he earned the silver in the D'Orsi Cup.

John lives in Stockport with life and bridge partner, Michelle Brunner.