Alex Higgins

This article is about the snooker player. For other people with similar names, see Alexander Higgins.

Alex Higgins
Higgins in 1968
Born(1949-03-18)18 March 1949
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died24 July 2010(2010-07-24) (aged 61)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sport country Northern Ireland
NicknameThe Hurricane[1]
Professional1971–1997[2]
Highest ranking2 (1976/77 and 1982/83)[3]
Tournament wins
Ranking1
World Champion

Alexander Gordon Higgins (18 March 1949 – 24 July 2010)[4] was a Northern Irish professional snooker player and a two-time world champion who is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. Nicknamed "Hurricane Higgins" for his rapid play,[5] and known as the "People's Champion" for his popularity and charisma,[6] he is often credited as a key factor in snooker's success as a mainstream televised sport in the 1980s.[7]

Higgins turned professional in 1971 and won the World Snooker Championship in 1972, defeating John Spencer 37–31 in the final to become the first qualifier to win the world title, a feat that only two other players—Terry Griffiths in 1979 and Shaun Murphy in 2005—have achieved since. Aged 22, he was then the sport's youngest world champion, a record he held until 21-year-old Stephen Hendry won the title in 1990. He was world championship runner-up to Ray Reardon in 1976 and Cliff Thorburn in 1980. At the 1982 event, Higgins came from 13 to 15 behind to defeat Jimmy White 16–15 in the semi-finals, producing a 69 clearance in the penultimate frame that is regarded as one of the greatest breaks in the sport's history.[8] He defeated Reardon 18–15 in the final, winning his second world title ten years after his first. Images of a tearful Higgins holding his baby daughter after his 1982 victory are regarded as some of the most iconic in the history of British televised sport.[9] Higgins won Masters titles in 1978 and 1981 and won the UK Championship in 1983, where he recovered from 0–7 behind to defeat Steve Davis 16–15 in the final. As of 2023, he is one of 11 players to have completed a career Triple Crown. He won the World Doubles Championship with White in 1984 and played with Dennis Taylor and Eugene Hughes on the all-Ireland team that won the World Cup three consecutive times from 1985 to 1987. He won his last professional title at the 1989 Irish Masters, defeating Hendry 9–8 in the final.

Remembered for his turbulent lifestyle, Higgins was a lifelong heavy smoker,[10] struggled with drinking and gambling,[7][11] and admitted to using cocaine and marijuana.[5] He had tempestuous relationships with women—both his marriages ended in divorce, and he had widely publicised altercations with other girlfriends, one of whom stabbed him three times during a domestic argument.[12] Known as an unpredictable, difficult, and volatile character,[13][14] he was often disciplined by the sport's governing body, most notably when he was fined £12,000 and banned for five tournaments in 1986 after head-butting an official, and banned again for the entire 1990–91 season after punching another official and threatening to have Taylor shot. Higgins retired from the professional tour in 1997. Diagnosed with throat cancer the following year,[15] he died of multiple causes in his Belfast home on 24 July 2010, aged 61.

  1. ^ "Alex Higgins". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Then and Now: Alex Higgins". Eurosport. 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  3. ^ Chris, Turner (3 August 2010). "Alex Higgins". Chris Turners Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  4. ^ Boyle, Simon (24 July 2010). "Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins dies, aged 61". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Obituary: Alex Higgins". BBC Sport. 24 July 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  6. ^ Weber, Bruce (31 July 2010). "Alex Higgins, the Bombastic 'People's Champion' of Pro Snooker, Dies at 61". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  7. ^ a b Neenan, Bill (24 July 2010). "Snooker's elite pay tribute to the inspiration of Alex Higgins". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  8. ^ Hartrick, David (25 January 2016). "How Alex Higgins rode the Hurricane to produce one of snooker's greatest breaks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  9. ^ Foley, Billy (15 May 2021). "TV Review: Alex Higgins was the ultimate television box office". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Where are they now?". BBC Sport. 24 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2003. Retrieved 31 January 2002.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference warning was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Alex Higgins: The women Hurricane blew hot and cold with". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. ^ Marsden, Jean (30 July 2010). "Hurricane Higgins used to live in Cuffley". Hertfordshire Mercury. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017.
  14. ^ Wallace, Arminta (11 February 2017). "From the archive: Master tailor on cue for a hurricane (Published: June 19th, 1982. Photograph by Peter Thursfield)". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Alex Higgins". Talk Snooker. 24 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.