Advertisement
Alex Higgins, 1949-2010. Inpho
RIP

Snooker world mourns as Hurricane finally blown out

Two-time world champion Alex Higgins loses a long battle with throat cancer.

THE WORLD OF SNOOKER is in mourning today after one of the game’s legendary characters, two-time world champion Alex Higgins, died yesterday at the age of 61 after a long battle with cancer.

Higgins (61) was found dead in his Belfast flat yesterday after suffering multiple organ failure. He was also suffering from bronchitis because of his smoking habit.

Known as ‘The Hurricane’, Higgins was described by modern greats like Ronnie O’Sullivan as the greatest player ever to raise a cue.

“Alex Higgins was one of the real inspirations behind me getting into snooker in the first place,” O’Sullivan told the Sunday Telegraph. “He is a legend of snooker, and should forever be remembered as the finest ever snooker player.”

Six-time world champion Steve Davis also paid tribute to the Northern Irishman.

“He was a totally amazing player. I had many battles with him over the years, mostly controversial ones! But he brought so much to the game. He will be sorely missed,” he said.

Fellow Northerener and former world champion Dennis Taylor added: “I don’t think you’ll ever, ever see another player in the game of snooker like the great Alex Higgins.”

Users on Boards.ie’s Snooker & Pool forum called Higgins “a true legend of the game”, “an enigma” and “a great entertainer of the game”.