Alex "Hurricane" Higgins RIP

[Vapin' Joe]

A very flawed personality, but anyone who saw him play will know he was the most exciting player ever to pick up a cue. And certainly the fastest, he made Ronnie O'sullivan seem like the slow boat to China.

Died today after a long battle with throat cancer.

 

[Vidor06]

My only personal experience of Alex was of a frail, pitiful, old man wandering the streets of Belfast pissed on Saturday nights. Having said that he was a legend of the snooker game and a true character in a sport void of a lot of personality. What is it about Northern Irish sports stars and dying far too early, mostly in some self inflicted manner.

 

[PaulB]

We used to know a girl who 'went out' with Alex Higgins and one night, she asked us to go with her to a snooker club in Chorlton, Manchester, when Higgins was still a top player. He had passes for us all to go to the Apollo and see Bruce Springsteen that night! We couldn't wait but he had to finish off a series of games for a bet he was on. By the time we got there, Springsteen was part-way through the show but we had very good seats and were escorted back stage afterwards to mingle with the band! The thing is, Higgins was the first person we'd ever seen snorting coke and on top of the booze he'd drank, he was a right embarrassment and Springsteen's road crew had us lashed out. Kim, she was called and her parents ran a country-type pub which is how she came to meet Higgins.

 

[biggs682]

another character bites the dust

A very flawed personality, but anyone who saw him play will know he was the most exciting player ever to pick up a cue. And certainly the fastest, he made Ronnie O'sullivan seem like the slow boat to China.

Died today after a long battle with throat cancer.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Tragic case really.

 

[Crankarm]

Hopefully, he's now playing snooker into eternity, racking up awesome big breaks using the amazing shots he used to play, entertaining the angels and sinners in equal measure.

RIP.

 

[Rebel Ian]

One of my childhood heroes. Hope you're at peace now Alex.

 

[theloafer]

rip alex saw him in our local wmc manys years ago i was about 14 then he was the best hope he is at peace now

 

[Blue]

RIP

 

[pubrunner]

We used to know a girl who 'went out' with Alex Higgins and one night, she asked us to go with her to a snooker club in Chorlton, Manchester, when Higgins was still a top player. He had passes for us all to go to the Apollo and see Bruce Springsteen that night! We couldn't wait but he had to finish off a series of games for a bet he was on. By the time we got there, Springsteen was part-way through the show but we had very good seats and were escorted back stage afterwards to mingle with the band! The thing is, Higgins was the first person we'd ever seen snorting coke and on top of the booze he'd drank, he was a right embarrassment and Springsteen's road crew had us lashed out. Kim, she was called and her parents ran a country-type pub which is how she came to meet Higgins.

Back in the 70s, I was a member of that very club ! I remember it well, 'cos it had a machine inside which sold hot salted peanuts - the height of sophistication at the time

It had a distinctive curved roof; last time I drove past, it was a Wetherspoons.

I saw Alex around the same time, in an exhibition match at The Little B pub on Marsland Road in Sale. As Steve Davis himself has said, he was the one true genius of snooker.

What was the name of your friend's country-style pub ? I frequented many pubs in that region; there was a very popular club on Palatine Road, the name of which escapes me (it may have been called 'Fridays'). It was a section of a hotel, on the left- hand side going away from Sale Moor and towards Chorlton. I had some great times in the 70s.

RIP Alex

 

[alecstilleyedye]

shame. one of life's characters…

 

[Stephenite]

RIP Alex

 

[NormanD]

RIP Alex

A true master of the snooker world 

 

[darkstar]

People inevitably bring up stories of his flaws, forgetting his absolute genius. Everyone goes through problems, he had his but lets forget that, and certainly don't go on about rug use, and personal viewing of such... Jeez.

He was one of the greatest snooker players of all time, RIP.

 

[hackbike 666]

We all have flaws...At least I know I have.Many

R.I.P Alex.