One of Snookers most charismatic Snooker World Champions, Alex “Hurricane” Higgins passed away today July 24 2010 aged 61.
Higgins lost his long fight with Cancer, having been diagnosed with the killer disease as long ago as 1998 when he had a Cancerous lump removed from his throat. Higgins was a heavy drinker and smoker back when the players were allowed to do both when playing in tournaments.
The “Hurricane” as he was known for his fast play between shots won two World Snooker titles his first when beating John Spencer 37 frames to 32 in 1972 and his second coming in 1982 when he beat the great Ray Reardon 18-15.
Higgins was never far from controversy in his career and was banned on numerous occasions from Snooker, his most serious incident was when he head-butted a referee in the 1986 UK Championships, he was fined £12,000 and banned from the next five Tournaments for the incident.
But Higgins clearly didn’t learn his lesson because in the 1990 World Championships, when he was beaten in the First round of the Tournament to Steve James he punched tournament official Colin Randle in the stomach before announcing his retirement from the sport.
Ironically we may have missed his great Snooker skills, when at the age of 14 Alex went to England to be a jockey after failing to land a ride he turned to the cue which he mastered with aplumb. Some Professionals have said that “The Hurricane” was the most natural Snooker player ever to play the sport.
Apart from his bad-boy image Higgins had a softer side and in 1983 Higgins helped a young boy to pull out of his coma state after he sent a recorded tape telling the boy that when he came out of his Coma he would play a game of Snooker with him and subsequently “The Hurricane” was through to his word as when the boy came out of his coma he played the boy the game of Snooker he promised him.
Higgins was also married twice and has a Son and Daughter with his ex-Wife Lyn.
When winning his first World Title Alex “Hurricane” Higgins lifted his Daughter with Pride at the Crucible showing how much he loved his daughter before lifting the Tournament Trophy.
R.I.P Alex “Hurricane” Higgins one of the best.
