Alex Higgins

1949-2010

In Loving Memory of Alex Hurricane Higgins, snooker genius and charismatic Belfast man, who passed away on 24 July 2010.

About Alex

Name: Alex Higgins
From: Belfast, Antrim, Ireland
Age: 61 years old

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Music

Song Title:My Heart Will Go On
Music by the O'Neill Brothers www.pianobrothers.com

Candles

Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 10:36:25 PM From Arlene Tierney: "Sadly missed but always remembered!!"
Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 3:30:33 PM From Julie Cahill: "Thank you for the many enjoyable games"
Sunday, July 25, 2010, 9:35:31 PM From Ashley Lowry: "You'll be sadly missed."

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This memorial page was created by Joe McGuiggan

Life Story

Alex Higgins was born in Sandy Row, Belfast on 18th March 1949. He started playing snooker at the age of 11 and in 1968, at the age of 19, had won the All-Ireland and Northern Ireland amateur snooker championships. He turned professional at the age of 22, winning the World Snooker Championship at his first attempt in 1972, against John Spencer.

He was twice world champion and runner-up on two occasions. He was also a former World Doubles Champion with Jimmy White and won the World Cup three times with the All Ireland team.

He earned his nickname "The Hurricane" due to his speed of play on the snooker table. His charisma and flamboyance popularised what had been a staid sport and inspired a whole generation of young players.

Higgins drank and smoked during tournaments, as did many of his contemporaries, helping sponsored tobacco advertising. It is estimated that he earned and mostly spent a £3 million fortune over twenty years.

A volatile personality got him into frequent fights and arguments, both on and off the snooker table. One of the most serious of these clashes was when he head-butted a referee at the UK championship in 1986.

In his retirement from the professional game he spent time playing for small sums of money in and around Northern Ireland.

In October 1998, he had an operation to remove a cancer from his throat. Since then he battled with the disease which seriously affected his health.

In March 2010, he spent time in hospital suffering from pneumonia but signed himself out to play against his fellow former world champion, Cliff Thorburn, in the Snooker Legends Tour in Sheffield.

He published his autobiography, From the Eye of the Hurricane: My Story, in 2007

He was married twice and had a son and a daughter with his wife Lynn.

In his latter years Higgins lived in sheltered housing on the Donegall Road in Belfast where he died alone on 24th July.

A book of condolence was opened at City Hall Belfast on Monday 26th July 2010.

His funeral will take place in Belfast on Monday.

Canon Houston McKelvey will conduct a service at St Annes Church of Ireland Cathedral in Donegall Street.

Shared Memories

A true pioneer of Snooker from Keelan Tierney

A true legend has passed away but has left many memorys for those who have had the pleasure of watching this master class at work, has inspired so many so thank you for that....My deepest sympathies go out to all that know you... you will be long remembered not forgotten.

Farewell to a true sportsman from The Face of Ireland Competition

Rest in peace to a true sportsman, May he rest in peace

a man of the people from peter gray

alex always found time for others especially the young visiting youth clubs and giving advice to the youngsters he will be sadly missed by all who knew or saw him play r.i.p. alex

Greatest Game from Jimmy Murray

I can still remember watching that marvellous semi - final between Higgins and Jimmy White. It seemed almost impossible that he could survive the onslaught from the Whirlwind, but this is what he did, in one of the grittiest comebacks I have ever witnessed. Rest in Peace Alex.