Higgins dies at 61

Double world champion dies following battle with throat cancer

Last updated: 25th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Double world snooker champion Alex Higgins has died at the age of 61.

Belfast-born Higgins, who claimed his world crowns in 1972 and 1982, endured a long battle with throat cancer having been diagnosed with the illness over ten years ago.

Known as the Hurricane by his legions of fans, Higgins was renowned for his fast and flamboyant style of play at the table.

Barry Hearn, the chairman of World Snooker, said Higgins would be remembered as the "original people's champion" and the man who transformed the popularity of the sport.

Hearn stated: "I have known him for nearly 40 years. He was the major reason for snooker's popularity in the early days.

"He was controversial at times, but he always played the game in the right spirit.

"We will miss him - he was the original people's champion."

Higgins was discovered at a block of flats in the centre of Belfast. He had been unwell for some time.

The player had not been answering his mobile phone and the flat had to be broken into, sources close to him said.

You can send skysports.com your tributes and memories of Alex Higgins using the feedback form below.

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Comments (834)

Dhiren Patel says...

mr. higgins rip. u were my fav snooker player. always loved to watch play. a real genius in my mind. thanks for the memories.

Posted 22:22 28th August 2010

Rich Jones says...

the GREATEST SNOOKER PLAYER OF ALL TIME , Alex brought the game to the public , he was a GENIUS on the Table . A Fantastic POTTER & SAFETY player when needed , this part of his game was not noticed by all but the top players knew how good he was. You gave so many of us great memories of a true snooker genius/Legend. The most gifted player of them all. I remember watching Alex as a young lad of 16 in 82 when he beat Reardon , an emotion never to forget. Thank you Alex for the experiance of growing up watching you play the game 7 bring it out of the clubs & out to the people. The game has not been the same since you were at your peak & to be honest most of us only watched when you played , i know thats what i did when i was younger. REST in PEACE ALEX Goodnight ALEX `HURRICANE` HIGGINS ------ LEGEND / GENIUS ..

Posted 16:26 19th August 2010

Edd Mc allister says...

snooker failed you, rip alex genius

Posted 21:58 28th July 2010

Mark Jamieson says...

At the end, he was a shell of a man. His addictions to drink and gambling, often in conjunction, had terrible personal and financial consequences. The cancer reaped it''s terrible toll. 10 years he fought that. He was a fighter. He was also a genius. The finest natural snooker player bar none. He rolled round the table like he was on rails, cue poised as the ref put it on the spot. Back and forth two or three times, then up, lick finger, pick dust of the baize. Then a wee look, maybe a sniff, down and BANG! Totally thrilling to watch. No one has ever come close to that pure entertainment he infused into a pedestrian sport. At the time Davis (admittedly a very nice guy, couldn''t show it then) and the others helped to develop the sport through their skill, but there was only one main attraction - Higgins. Alex Higgins was the reason people watched snooker, the opponent, win or lose, was just a test of his skill. AT his best he could beat anyone, he was a force of nature, a ...hurricane. Now the revenues have peaked, long after he pulled his last pot, and the androids that play now are losing their audience because the game has lost it''s flair, flamboyance and entertainment. Those are qualities you can''t buy, sell, or take away. Please note Mr Allen as you watch the sport disintergrate through lack of interest before your eyes. Acknowledge genius when lucky enough to be it''s witness, be thankful, and then be on your way. Next year it''s who care v who cares in the final, same as this year. To the Hurricane!

Posted 21:44 28th July 2010

Susan Bailey says...

What a hero he was just one of the best players to watch. I still can,t watch anything when it shows you Paul Hunter. He,ll be miss so much

Posted 21:24 28th July 2010

Carol Morton says...

Alex you will always have a space in my heart,great times watching you play ,genius, hurricane,whatever title, you where human,like us all and nobody is perfect,sleep in peace Alex free from pain and demons that tormented you x sympathy to all his family,sorry i cant be there on monday,but my thoughts wiil be in belfast

Posted 21:08 28th July 2010

Alihusein Namajee says...

Alex Higgins was a favourite of the Snooker fans not only in England but all over the world. His flamboyant style and speed was what used to amaze his fans. Here in Kenya we named a player Sugarcane Higgins in Mombasa during the Hurricane Era. May his soul rest in Peace Ameen.

Posted 13:11 28th July 2010

Paul Woods says...

alex was a true professional who always tried his very best.he made the sport lively and i always looked forward to watching alex playing.rest in peace.god blessxxxxx

Posted 21:36 27th July 2010

Irm Saddiq says...

RIP Alex Higgins, such a fun guy to watch which is why snooker has become one of my best sports x. It is sad when a legend passes away, but it''s a way of life however will not be forgotten EVER!!!

Posted 15:26 27th July 2010

Colm Mchugh says...

RIP. Watching Snooker is like watching paint dry, but he made it as electrifying as any sport could be. True genius.

Posted 10:49 27th July 2010

Al Lund-larden says...

Always remember the good times...u were a true entertainer....rest in peace .......god bless you....we all got our faults...but we are not all as brilliant as you were.......sleep with the angels my friend

Posted 20:30 26th July 2010

Jools Thompson says...

Firstly- RIP to a legend. I''ll never forget 1982. While our country was languishing in darkness and bloodshed, Hurricane Higgins gave the people of Ulster something to smile about and be proud of. Alex Gordon Higgins was a sporting iconoclast, his speed and grace on the table were electrifying. Everyone who was honoured to watch was left starry-eyed with the wonder of him. Sleep well Big Man. Secondly and this is to Vincent Allen. Alex made a great many mistakes in his life but by God, he paid for them. His final pictures show him to be the physical embodiment of human suffering. He died of starvation, in a homeless shelter, alone. He had his flaws, as we all do but at least he had many saving graces. You, Sir, have NO generosity of spirit and that is much worse. And for your information, I met him. And he was an utter GENT.

Posted 19:35 26th July 2010

Brent Stevenson says...

Yesterday i shed a few tears for the most entertaining,exciting,nail biting snooker player that has ever graced the snooker table.My teenage years were spent watching him on TV and travelling around the East Midlands at every opportunity to watch him live. He played at my local snooker club in the 80s and he was a real star but with no pretence. he was the biggest influence in snooker back in the 70s and 80s and every player playing today owes him a big thanks. Many great games spring to mind but for me the comeback against Davis playing at his peak to win the 1983 UK champs was the best. The words legend ,genius and hero are used far too liberally these days but Higgins epitomised all of those words and more. Thanks for the entertainment,the high and lows, the achievements and disappointments...never ever to be forgotten. Rest peacefully Alexander Gordon Higgins....the Hurricane will never be blown out.

Posted 18:30 26th July 2010

Maya Dorcil says...

1982. I was a teenager still living in Haiti, my birthplace when I first became aware of Alex. My Father Constantin Maya Dorcil introduced me to snooker (Petit club de Petion-ville). Dad was an ok player....Ti Vincent was a good if not very good player....Myself, here and there I would play a decent game but: ALEX HIGGINS, THE HURRICANE, WAS THE GREATEST.......THE PEOPLE''S CHAMPION THE WORLD OVER......R.I.P SIR.

Posted 12:10 26th July 2010

John Nelson says...

I have now lost both of my Belfast heroes,George Best and now the equally brilliant genius of Alex Higgins.I grew up in Belfast and held both of these Peoples Champions in the highest esteem.Even though they could both be very frustrating characters there was never any doubting the pure talent that existed in both cases.My world and that of every lover of snooker/football will be that much emptier because they are both having a glass in a happier place today.Thanks for the glorious memories,i will never forget either of you.

Posted 10:24 26th July 2010

David Paul says...

u will be missed for u snooker u were the king of snooker rip mate u will be missed

Posted 03:59 26th July 2010

Paul Neale says...

A true legend of the game

Posted 23:43 25th July 2010

Vincent Boyde says...

Alex you going to be missed by many all over the world. Hope you are at peace. God Bless

Posted 22:29 25th July 2010

Peter Kelly says...

alex put snooker on the map the main man god bless you rest in peace alex

Posted 18:28 25th July 2010

Noel Fahy says...

R.I.P Alex, A true legend. I remember seeing you play in an exhibition match when i was 13 in my hometown in Ireland and you were unbelievable, i had never seen snooker being played on TV, like you played that day. Truly missed and never forgotten. R.I.P

Posted 17:37 25th July 2010

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