Despite his many talents, Alex Higgins was a notorious character. His volatile personality and incessant arguments made him a controversial figure. He was not a "right type", and his uninhibited lifestyle were noticed by the national news.
Steve James defeated Alex Higgins in the first round of the 1990 World Snooker Championship. After winning the semi final, he beat Ray Reardon by 18-15 to win the final. Higgins became the first person to qualify for four consecutive semifinals. In the final, he lost to Jimmy White, who was in the semi-final, while Davy Ferguson was in the final.
Alex Higgins was a long-term smoker and had problems with alcohol throughout his career. In 1998, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He played snooker throughout his life and in 2006, became the first Irish player with the world title.
Alex "Hurricane” Higgins in his prime was a speedy shotmaker. He was also a flamboyant character, as evidenced by his open-necked shirt. He was often accompanied at all times by a pallbearer. He was also a passionate smoker. In 2006, he joined over 200 others in suing Benson & Hedges for being a snooker sponsor.
Higgins abused alcohol, drugs, and gambling during his career. Holly Haise, his ex-girlfriend, stabbed Higgins three times in the arm. His life was further complicated by his long battle against throat cancer. He died in 2010 aged 61. His funeral was at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.
Alex "Hurricane” Higgins was known for being reckless and anti-heroic. He was a wild character with a volatile temperament that made him difficult for people to work with. In fact, he was banned from the popular snooker TV show Pot Black, because he frequently got into trouble with the authorities.
Higgins was frequently out of the country and lived near the edge. Lynn, his wife cried one time after Higgins won a match. Lauren was brought to Crucible after he had won the World Championship. He also threatened to shoot Dennis Taylor, a fellow player in the World Cup. The police case against him was dropped as there was no evidence that he had actually hurt anyone.
Higgins was often the topic of controversy because of his frequent arguments, and his high alcohol intake. Higgins was a regular user of cocaine, and had been told he had throat cancer. He struggled to deal with the amount of attention he was receiving. The crowd was often fascinated by him, and he had no manager. But, his talent was evident and he was a huge box office hit.
Alex "Hurricane", a fast-shooter who was also gifted, was often hampered by his talent. He was rebellious and anti-hero. He defeated the best players in the game, but had an air of menace.