(Go: >> BACK << -|- >> HOME <<)
Jump to content

Alex Higgins

Frae Wikipedia, the free beuk o knawledge


Alex Higgins
Higgins in 2008.
Born18 Mairch 1949(1949-03-18)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Dee'd24 Julie 2010(2010-07-24) (aged 61)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sport kintra Northren Ireland
NicknameHurricane,[1] The Irish Hurricane
Professional1971–1997[2]
Heichest rankin2 (1976/77 and 1982/83)[3]
Career winnins£711,999
Heichest break142: 1985 British Open[3]
Century braks82
Toornament wins
Rankin1
Non-rankin23
Warld Champion

Alexander Gordon Higgins (18 Mairch 1949 – 24 Julie 2010)[4] wis a Northern Irish professional snooker player, who is remembered as ane o the maist iconic figures in the gemme. Nicknamed Hurricane Higgins acause of his fast play,[5] he wis Warld Champion in 1972 and 1982, and runner-up in 1976 and 1980. He won the UK Championship in 1983 an the Masters in 1978 and 1981, makin him ane of eleven players tae hae completit snooker's Triple Crown. He wis an aw Warld Doubles champion wi Jimmy White in 1984, an won the Warld Cup three times wi the Aw-Ireland team.

Higgins came tae be kent as the "People's Champion" acause of his popularity,[6] and is eften credited wi haein brocht the gemme of snooker tae a wider audience, contributing tae its peak in popularity in the 1980s.[7] He haed a reputation as an unpredictable and difficult character.[8] He wis a hivy smoker,[9] struggled wi drinking and gambling,[7][10] and admitted tae uisin cocaine and marijuana.[5] First diagnosed wi throat cancer in 1998,[11] Higgins died of multiple causes in his Belfast home on 24 Julie 2010. Higgins still holds the heichest break tae win a Warld Championship, bein 135 in the 1982 final against Ray Reardon.

Life and career

Early life

Higgins (right) wi David Taylor at an exhibition at Queen's University Belfast, 1968

Higgins wis raised in the Church of Ireland.[11] He started playing snooker at the age of 11,[12] eften in the Jampot club in his native Sandy Row aurie of sooth Belfast and later in the YMCA in the nearby ceety centre. At age 14, he left for England and a career as a jockey. Houiver, he never made the grade acause he wis too hivy tae ride competitively. He returned tae Belfast and bi 1965, aged 16, he haed compiled his first maximum break.[12] In 1968 he won the Aw-Ireland and Northern Ireland Amateur Snooker Championships.

Warld titles

Higgins turned professional at the age of 22, winning the Warld Championship at his first attempt in 1972, against John Spencer winnin 37–32.[13] Higgins wis then the youngest ever winner o the title, a record retained until Stephen Hendry's 1990 veectory at the age of 21.[14] In Apryle 1976, Higgins reached the final again and faced Ray Reardon. Higgins led 11–9, but Reardon made fower centuries and seiven breaks ower 60 tae pull away and win the title for the fift time wi the score of 27–16. Higgins wis an aw the runner-up tae Cliff Thorburn in 1980, losin 18–16, efter bein 9–5 up. Higgins won the warld title for a seicont time in 1982 efter beatin Reardon 18–15 (wi a 135 tot clearance in the final frame); it wis an emotional as well as professional veectory for him. Higgins wad hae been ranked No. 1 in the warld rankins for the 1982/83 season haed he nae forfeited rankin pynts follaein disciplinary action.[15][16]

Other victories

Throughout his career, Higgins won 20 ither titles, ane o the maist notable bein the 1983 UK Championship. In the final he trailed Steve Davis 0–7 afore producin a famous comeback tae win 16–15.[17] He an aw won the Masters twice, in 1978 an in 1981, beatin Cliff Thorburn (a man who, at ane pynt, floored Higgins wi ane swift punch [18]) and Terry Griffiths in the finals respectively.[19] Anither notable veectory wis his final professional triumph in the 1989 Irish Masters at the age of 40 when he defeatit a young Stephen Hendry. This wis the last professional tournament he won, an is eften referred tae as "The Hurricane's Last Hurrah".

Post-retirement

Efter his retirement frae the professional gemme, Higgins spent time playin for smaw sums of money in and aroond Northern Ireland. He made appearances in the 2005 and 2006 Irish Professional Championship, thir comebacks endin in first-roond defeats bi Garry Hardiman and Joe Delaney respectively.

On 12 Juin 2007, it wis reportit that Higgins haed assaulted a referee at a charity match in the north-east of England.[20] Higgins returned tae competitive action in September 2007 at the Irish Professional Championship in Dublin but wis whitewashed 0–5 bi umwhile British Open champion Fergal O'Brien in the first roond at the Spawell Club, Templeogue.[21]

Higgins continued tae play fairly regularly, an enjoyed "hustling" aw comers for smaw-time stakes in clubs in Northern Ireland and beyond; in May 2009 he entered the Northern Ireland Amateur Championship, "to give it a crack",[22] but failed tae appear for his match.

On 8 Apryle 2010, Higgins wis pairt o the debut Snooker Legends Tour event in Sheffield, at the Crucible. Appearin alongside ither retired or close-tae-retiring professionals, includin John Parrott, Jimmy White, John Virgo and Cliff Thorburn, he faced Thorburn in his match, but lost 2–0.[23]

It is estimatit that Higgins earned and spent £3–4 million in his career as a snooker player.[24][25]

Playing style

Higgins's speed aroond the table, his ability tae pot balls at a rapid rate and flamboyant style earned him the nickname "Hurricane Higgins" and made him a very heich-profile player. His heichly unusual cueing technique whiles included a body swerve and movement, as well as a stance that wis noticeably higher than that of maist professionals.

The unorthodox play of Higgins wis encapsulated in his break of 69, made unner unusual pressure, against Jimmy White in the penultimate frame of thair Warld Professional Snooker Championship semi-final in 1982. Higgins wis 0–59 doun in that frame, but managed tae compile an extremely challengin clearance during which he wis scarcely in poseetion until the colours. In parteecular, umwhile warld champion Dennis Taylor considers a three-quarter-ball pot on a blue intae the green pocket especially memorable, nae anly for its extreme degree of difficulty but for enabling Higgins tae continue the break and keep White off the table and unable tae clinch veectory at that moment. In potting the blue, Higgins screwed the cue-ball on tae the side cushion tae bring it back towards the black/pink aurie wi extreme left-haund sidespin, a shot Taylor believes coud be played 100 times wioot coming close tae the poseetion Higgins reached wi cue-ball. He went a little too far for ideal poseetion on his next reid but the match-saving break wis still alive.[26][citation needit]

Professionalism and behaviour

Higgins drank alcohol and smoked during tournaments, as did mony of his contemporaries. A volatile personality got him intae frequent fights and arguments, baith on and off the snooker table. Ane o the maist serious of thir clashes wis when he heid-butted a tournament offeecial at the UK championship in 1986 efter an argument. This incident saw Higgins bein fined £12,000 and banned frae five tournaments,[27] while he wis an aw convicted of assault and criminal damage arising frae the incident, an wis fined £250 bi a court.[28]

Anither came at the 1990 Warld Championship; efter losin his first-roond match tae Steve James, he punched tournament offeecial Colin Randle in the abdomen afore the stairt o a press conference at which he annoonced his retirement, an abused the media as he left. This followed anither incident at the Warld Cup, whaur he repeatedly argued wi fellae player and compatriot Dennis Taylor, an threatened tae hae him shot. For his conduct, Higgins wis banned for the rest o the season and aw o the next.[29]

During the Warld Trickshot Championship in 1991, Higgins demonstrated his seeming ignorance of how a professional snooker player should behave, when during his performance he descrived the black ball as "Muhammad Ali" in front o a live audience and TV cameras,[30] which caused a visibly pained expression frae Barry Hearn and an exclamation frae fellae judge Steve Davis that his score wis already law nou afore the shot wis even played.

Outside snooker

At the time of his 1972 triumph at the Warld Championship, Higgins haed no permanent home and bi his ain accoont haed recently lived in a row of abandoned houses in Blackburn which war awaiting demolition. In ane week he haed moved intae five different houses on the same street, muivin doun ane every time his current dwelling wis demolished.[31]

In 1975, Higgins' son wis born. Higgins's first marriage wis tae Cara Hasler in Apryle 1975 in Sydney. Thay haed a dochter Christel[10] and divorced. His seicont marriage wis tae Lynn Avison in 1980. Thay haed a dochter Lauren (born late 1980)[32] and son Jordan (born Mairch 1983).[11][33] Thay split in 1985[28] and divorced. In the same year, Higgins began a relationship wi Siobhan Kidd, which ended in 1989 efter he allegedly hit her wi a hairdryer.[34]

He haed a lang and enduring friendship wi Oliver Reed.[35]

He wis the subject of This Is Your Life in 1981 when he wis surprised bi Eamonn Andrews.

In 1983 Higgins helped a young boy frae the Manchester aurie, a fan of his who haed been in a coma for twa month. His parents war growin desperate and wrote tae Higgins. He recorded messages on tape and sent them tae the boy wi his best wishes. He later visited the boy in hospital and played a snooker match he promised tae hae wi him when he recovered.[36]

In 1996, Higgins wis convicted of assaulting a 14-year-auld boy,[25] while in 1997 then-girlfriend Holly Haise stabbed him three times during a domestic argument.[28] He published his autobiography, From the Eye of the Hurricane: My Story, in 2007.[37] Higgins appeared in the Sporting Stars edition o the British telly quiz The Weakest Link on 25 Julie 2009.[38]

Illness and death

For mony years, Higgins smoked heavily. He reportedly smoked 80 cigarettes a day.[39] He haed cancerous growths removed frae his mooth in 1994 and 1996.[40] In Juin 1998, he wis foond tae hae throat cancer;[11] on 13 October of that year, he haed major surgery.[41] He coud anly talk in a whisper in his last years.[42]

In early 2010 he suffered frae pneumonia and breathing problems,[43] and on 31 Mairch he wis admitted tae hospital.[44] In Apryle 2010 Higgins' friends annoonced that thay haed set up a campaign tae help raise the £20,000 he needed for teeth implants, tae enable him tae eat properly again and put on wecht. Higgins haed lost his teeth efter intensive radiotherapy uised tae treat his throat cancer. It wis reportit that syne losin them he haed been livin on liquid fuid, an haed acome increasingly depressed, even contemplating suicide.[45] He wis too ill and frail tae hae the implants fitted.[46] Despite his illness, Higgins continued tae smoke cigarettes and drink heavily until the end of his life.[47] He wis admitted tae hospital again in May.[42]

Bi the simmer of 2010, Higgins' wecht haed fallen tae 6 stone (38 kilogram).[25] Despite haein ance been worth £4 million, he wis bankrupt and survived on a £200-a-week disability allowance.[45] He wis foond dead in bed in his flat on 24 Julie 2010.[4][33] The cause of daith wis a combination of malnutrition, pneumonia, tuith decay, an a bronchial condeetion, awtho his dochter Lauren stated that he wis clear frae throat cancer when he died.[48] His childer survived him.[49]

Higgins' funeral service wis held at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast on 2 August 2010. He wis buried in Carnmoney Cemetery in Newtownabbey, Coonty Antrim. Amang the snooker professionals in attendance war Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty, Joe Swail,[50] Shaun Murphy and John Virgo.[51] Doherty and White war pall bearers.

Legacy

Alex Higgins wis an inspiration tae mony subsequent professional snooker players, includin Ken Doherty, Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan. In Clive Everton's TV documentary The Story of Snooker (2002), Steve Davis descrived Higgins as the "one true genius that snooker has produced",[52] awtho the autobiography o a contemporary leadin professional Willie Thorne characterised Higgins as "not a great player".[53] Higgins arguably fulfilled his potential anly intermittently during his career peak in the 1970s and 80s; Everton puts this doun tae Davis and Ray Reardon generally bein too consistent for him.[54]

Regairdless, Higgins' exciting style and explosive persona helped mak snooker a growin telly sport in the 1970s and 1980s. Higgins an aw made the first 16-red clearance (in a challenge match in 1976); it wis a break of 146 (wi the broun as the first "red", and 16 colours: 1 green, 5 pinks and 10 blacks).[55]

In 2011, Event 8 o the Players Tour Championship wis renamed as the Alex Higgins International Trophy.[56] In 2016, WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn annoonced that the trophy for the new Northern Ireland Open tournament wad be named efter Higgins.[57][58]

Higgins' professional rivalry wi Steve Davis wis portrayed in a 2016 BBC featur film entitled The Rack Pack, in which he wis played bi Luke Treadaway.[59]

Performance and rankins timeline

Tournament 1971/
72 		1972/
73 		1973/
74 		1974/
75 		1975/
76 		1976/
77 		1977/
78 		1978/
79 		1979/
80 		1980/
81 		1981/
82 		1982/
83 		1983/
84 		1984/
85 		1985/
86 		1986/
87 		1987/
88 		1988/
89 		1989/
90 		1990/
91 		1991/
92 		1992/
93 		1993/
94 		1994/
95 		1995/
96 		1996/
97
rankin[60] No rankin seestem 2 5 7 11 4 11 2 5 9 9 6 9 17 24 97 120 72 61 48 51 99
rankin tournaments
Asian Classic[nb 1] Tournament Not Held NR QF WD 3R LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ
Grand Prix Tournament Not Held 2R 1R 2R 3R 3R A F 2R A LQ LQ 1R LQ LQ LQ
UK Championship Non-rankin Event F 3R SF 2R 2R 2R A 1R 1R 1R 3R LQ LQ
German Open Tournament Not Held LQ WD
Welsh Open Tournament Not Held LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ
International Open[nb 2] Tournament Not Held NR 2R 1R QF 3R 2R A 1R 1R Not Held LQ 1R LQ LQ LQ
European Open Tournament Not Held 2R 2R WD LQ 1R LQ LQ LQ LQ
Thailand Open[nb 3] Tournament Not Held Non-rankin Event Not Held 2R WD LQ LQ LQ LQ LQ WD
British Open[nb 4] Tournament Not Held Non-rankin Event SF SF 1R 1R 2R F A LQ 1R LQ 1R LQ LQ
Warld Championship W SF QF SF F 1R 1R QF F 2R W SF 1R 2R 2R 2R 1R LQ 1R A LQ LQ 1R LQ LQ LQ
Non-rankin tournaments
Scottish Masters Tournament Not Held SF F SF SF QF F QF NH A A A A A A A A
The Masters Not Held QF QF SF W F F W SF 1R QF QF 1R F QF A WR A LQ LQ LQ A LQ A
Irish Masters[nb 5] Not Held F F W SF SF SF SF SF SF SF F 1R 1R SF W QF A 1R A A A A A
European League[nb 6] Tournament Not Held RR Not Held A A RR A A A A A A A A
Pontins Professional Not Held A A A A RR A A A QF A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Former rankin tournaments
Canadian Masters[nb 7] Not Held Non-rankin Tournament Not Held Non-rankin LQ Tournament Not Held
Hong Kong Open[nb 8] Tournament Not Held Non-rankin Event NH 3R Tournament Not Held NR NR NH
Classic Tournament Not Held Non-rankin Event 2R 2R QF 2R 3R 2R 2R A LQ Tournament Not Held
Strachan Open Tournament Not Held LQ MR NR Not Held
Former non-rankin tournaments
Park Drive 2000 (Spring) F Tournament Not Held
Park Drive 2000 (Autumn) A F Tournament Not Held
Men Of The Midlands W W Tournament Not Held
Norwich Union Open Not Held SF SF Tournament Not Held
Watney Open Not Held W Tournament Not Held
Canadian Club Masters Tournament Not Held W Tournament Not Held
Warld Matchplay Championship Tournament Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Dry Blackthorn Cup Tournament Not Held F Tournament Not Held
Holsten Lager International Tournament Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Forward Chemicals Tournament Tournament Not Held RR Tournament Not Held
Padmore Super Crystalate Tournament Not Held W Tournament Not Held
Pontins Camber Sands Tournament Not Held W Tournament Not Held
Champion of Champions Tournament Not Held F NH RR Tournament Not Held
International Open[nb 9] Tournament Not Held SF rankin Event Not Held rankin Event
Northern Ireland Classic Tournament Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Highland Masters Tournament Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Classic Tournament Not Held F QF SF 1R rankin Event Tournament Not Held
Tolly Cobbold Classic Tournament Not Held W W SF A QF A Tournament Not Held
UK Championship Tournament Not Held SF SF QF F QF F W rankin Event
British Open[nb 10] Tournament Not Held W RR RR RR RR rankin Event
KitKat Break for Warld Champions Tournament Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Pot Black A RR A A A A RR A A RR RR RR 1R A 1R Tournament Not Held A A A Not Held
Carlsberg Challenge Tournament Not Held SF F SF A A Tournament Not Held
Canadian Masters[nb 11] Not Held SF W F W SF SF SF Tournament Not Held A SF A R Tournament Not Held
Hong Kong Open[nb 12] Tournament Not Held A A A RR QF A 1R A SF NH R Tournament Not Held A A NH
Hong Kong Gold Cup Tournament Not Held F Tournament Not Held
International League Tournament Not Held RR Tournament Not Held
Warld Seniors Championship Tournament Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
Irish Professional Championship W Tournament Not Held W W W F A F W NH F F WD QF W Not Held A QF Tournament Not Held
Tenball Tournament Not Held QF Not Held
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early roonds o the tournament
(WR = Wildcard roond, RR = Roond robin) 		QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did nae qualify for the tournament A did nae participate in the tournament WD withdrew frae the tournament
NH / Not Held means an event wis nae held.
NR / Non-rankin Event means an event is/wis no langer a rankin event.
R / rankin Event means an event is/wis a rankin event.
  1. ↑ The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Dubai Classic (1989/90–1994/1995) and Thailand Classic (1995/1996)
  2. ↑ The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)
  3. ↑ The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993)
  4. ↑ The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)
  5. ↑ The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977)
  6. ↑ The event was also called the Professional Snooker League (1983/1984), Matchroom League (1986/1987 to 1991/1992)
  7. ↑ The event was also called the Canadian Open (1974/1975–1980/1981)
  8. ↑ The event ran under different names such as the Australian Masters (1983/1984 to 1987/1988 and 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995).
  9. ↑ The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)
  10. ↑ The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)
  11. ↑ The event was also called the Canadian Open (1974/1975–1980/1981)
  12. ↑ The event ran under different names such as the Australian Masters (1983/1984 to 1987/1988 and 1995/1996) and Australian Open (1994/1995).

Career finals

rankin finals: 6 (1 title, 5 runner-ups)

Legend
Warld Championship (1–2)
UK Championship (0–1)
Ither (0–2)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1976 Warld Championship Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 16–27
Runner-up 2. 1980 Warld Championship (2) Canadae Thorburn, CliffCliff Thorburn 16–18
Winner 1. 1982 Warld Championship (2) Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 18–15
Runner-up 3. 1984 UK Championship (3) Ingland Davis, SteveSteve Davis 8–16
Runner-up 4. 1988 Grand Prix Ingland Davis, SteveSteve Davis 6–10
Runner-up 5. 1990 British Open Canadae Chaperon, BobBob Chaperon 8–10

Non-rankin finals: 50 (23 titles, 27 runner-ups)

Legend
Warld Championship (1–0) [nb 1]
UK Championship (1–2) [nb 2]
The Masters (2–3)
Ither (19–22)

[61] [62] [63]

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 1972 Men o the Midlands Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 4–2
Winner 2. 1972 Irish Professional Championship Northren Ireland Rea, JackieJackie Rea 28–12
Winner 3. 1972 Warld Championship Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 37–32
Runner-up 1. 1972 Park Drive 2000 – Spring Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 3–4
Runner-up 2. 1972 Park Drive 2000 – Autumn Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 3–5
Winner 4. 1973 Men o the Midlands (2) Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 5–3
Winner 5. 1974 Watney Open Ingland Davis, FredFred Davis 17–11
Runner-up 3. 1974 Jackpot Automatics Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 0–5
Runner-up 4. 1975 Ashton Court Country Club Event Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 1–5
Winner 6. 1975 Canadian Open Ingland Pulman, JohnJohn Pulman 15–7
Runner-up 5. 1975 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament Ingland John Spencer 7–9
Winner 7. 1976 Canadian Club Masters Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 6–4
Runner-up 6. 1976 Canadian Open Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 9–17
Runner-up 7. 1976 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament Ingland John Spencer 0–5
Winner 8. 1977 Canadian Open (2) Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 17–14
Runner-up 8. 1977 Dry Blackthorn Cup Republic o Ireland Fagan, PatsyPatsy Fagan 2–4
Winner 9. 1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 5–3
Winner 10. 1978 Irish Professional Championship (2) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 21–7
Winner 11. 1978 The Masters Canadae Thorburn, CliffCliff Thorburn 7–5
Runner-up 9. 1978 Castle Professional Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 3–5
Winner 12. 1978 Irish Professional Championship (3) Republic o Ireland Fagan, PatsyPatsy Fagan 21–13
Runner-up 10. 1978 Champion of Champions Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 9–11
Runner-up 11. 1978 Suffolk Professional Invitational Republic o Ireland Patsy Fagan 3–7
Runner-up 12. 1979 The Masters Sooth Africae Mans, PerriePerrie Mans 4–8
Winner 13. 1979 Tolly Cobbold Classic Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 5–4
Winner 14. 1979 Irish Professional Championship (4) Republic o Ireland Fagan, PatsyPatsy Fagan 21–12
Winner 15. 1980 Padmore Super Crystalate International Sooth Africae Mans, PerriePerrie Mans 4–2
Runner-up 13. 1980 The Classic Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 3–4
Winner 16. 1980 Tolly Cobbold Classic (2) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 5–4
Runner-up 14. 1980 The Masters (2) Wales Griffiths, TerryTerry Griffiths 5–9
Winner 17. 1980 British Gold Cup Wales Reardon, RayRay Reardon 5–1
Runner-up 15. 1980 Irish Professional Championship Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 15–21
Winner 18. 1980 Pontins Camber Sands Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 9–7
Runner-up 16. 1980 UK Championship Ingland Davis, SteveSteve Davis 6–16
Winner 19. 1981 The Masters (2) Wales Griffiths, TerryTerry Griffiths 9–6
Runner-up 17. 1982 Irish Professional Championship (2) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 13–16
Runner-up 18. 1982 Scottish Masters Ingland Davis, SteveSteve Davis 4–9
Runner-up 19. 1982 UK Championship (2) Wales Griffiths, TerryTerry Griffiths 15–16
Winner 20. 1983 Irish Professional Championship (5) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 16–11
Winner 21. 1983 UK Championship Ingland Davis, SteveSteve Davis 16–15
Runner-up 20. 1985 Irish Masters Ingland White, JimmyJimmy White 5–9
Runner-up 21. 1985 Irish Professional Championship (3) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 5–10
Runner-up 22. 1985 Carlsberg Challenge Ingland White, JimmyJimmy White 3–8
Runner-up 23. 1986 Irish Professional Championship (4) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 7–10
Runner-up 24. 1986 Scottish Masters (2) Canadae Thorburn, CliffCliff Thorburn 8–9
Runner-up 25. 1987 The Masters (3) Northren Ireland Taylor, DennisDennis Taylor 8–9
Runner-up 26. 1988 WPBSA Invitational – Event 1 Ingland Wilkinson, GaryGary Wilkinson 4–5
Winner 22. 1989 Irish Professional Championship (6) Northren Ireland McLaughlin, JackJack McLaughlin 9–7
Runner-up 27. 1989 Hong Kong Gold Cup Ingland Davis, SteveSteve Davis 3–6
Winner 23. 1989 Irish Masters Scotland Stephen Hendry 9–8

Pro-am finals: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 1975 Castle Open Ingland Spencer, JohnJohn Spencer 5–2
Winner 2. 1977 Pontins Spring Open Wales Griffiths, TerryTerry Griffiths 7–4[64]
Runner-up 1. 1988 Dutch Open Ingland Birch, JonathanJonathan Birch 2–6

Team finals: 5 (4 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome No. Year Championship Team/pairtner Opponent(s) in the final Score
Winner 1. 1984 Warld Doubles Championship Ingland White, JimmyJimmy White Canadae Thorburn, CliffCliff Thorburn
Ingland Thorne, WillieWillie Thorne 		10–2
Winner 2. 1985 Warld Cup Ireland  Ingland 9–7
Winner 3. 1986 Warld Cup (2) Ireland  Canadae 9–7
Winner 4. 1987 Warld Cup (3) Ireland  Canadae 9–2
Runner-up 1. 1990 Warld Cup  Northren Ireland  Canadae 5–9

Amateur finals: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 1968 Northern Ireland Amateur Championship Northren Ireland Maurice Gill 4–1[65]
Winner 2. 1968 Aw-Ireland Amateur Championship Republic o Ireland [62]
Runner-up 1. 1969 Northern Ireland Amateur Championship Northren Ireland Dessie Anderson 0–4[62]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Warld Championship did not become a rankin event until 1974
  2. ↑ The UK Championship did not become a rankin event until 1984

References

  1. ↑ Hughes, Simon (25 Januar 2003). "These days Hurricane Higgins is running out of wind". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. Archived frae the original on 30 Mairch 2008. Retrieved 28 Apryle 2008.
  2. ↑ "Then and Now: Alex Higgins". Eurosport. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 14 Januar 2010.
  3. ↑ a b Chris, Turner (3 August 2010). "Alex Higgins". Chris Turners Snooker Archive. Archived frae the original on 10 Februar 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  4. ↑ a b Boyle, Simon (24 Julie 2010). "Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins dies, aged 61". London: The Telegraph. Archived frae the original on 27 Julie 2010. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  5. ↑ a b "Obituary: Alex Higgins". BBC. 24 Julie 2010. Archived frae the original on 26 Julie 2010. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  6. ↑ Weber, Bruce (31 Julie 2010). "Alex Higgins, the Bombastic 'People's Champion' of Pro Snooker, Dies at 61". New York Times. Archived frae the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  7. ↑ a b Neenan, Bill (24 Julie 2010). "Snooker's elite pay tribute to the inspiration of Alex Higgins". London: guardian.co.uk. Archived frae the original on 29 Julie 2010. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  8. ↑ Marsden, Jean (30 Julie 2010). "Hurricane Higgins used to live in Cuffley". Hertfordshire Mercury (in Inglis). Archived frae the original on 2 Mey 2017. Archived 2017-05-02 at Archive.today
  9. ↑ "Where are they now?". BBC Sport. 24 Julie 2010. Retrieved 31 Januar 2002.
  10. ↑ a b "Hurricane warning". Irish Independent. 19 October 2002.
  11. ↑ a b c d "Alex Higgins". Talk Snooker. 24 Julie 2010. Archived frae the original on 17 Julie 2010. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010. Archived 2010-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ a b "Warld Snooker Profile". WPBSA. Archived frae the original on 24 Februar 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009.[deid airtin]
  13. ↑ "Where are they now? – Alex Higgins". johnvirgo.com. Archived frae the original on 17 Apryle 2008. Retrieved 9 Apryle 2008. Archived 2008-04-17 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "1990 – Cue Stephen Hendry". BBC Sport. 12 Apryle 2002. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  15. ↑ Osley, Richard; Gray, Sadie (25 Julie 2010). "Snooker legend Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins is dead". London: The Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Alex Higgins: The genius". The Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 26 Julie 2010. Archived frae the original on 20 Julie 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  17. ↑ "UK Championship history". BBC Sport. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  18. ↑ "TOP 5 SNOOKER BUST-UPS". Warld Snooker.[deid airtin]
  19. ↑ Burnett, Mike (12 Januar 2006). "Masters history". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  20. ↑ "Higgins 'hits ref' at fund-raiser". BBC Sport. 12 Juin 2007. Archived frae the original on 30 Juin 2007. Retrieved 12 Juin 2007.
  21. ↑ "News". Eurosport. 4 September 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007.[deid airtin]
  22. ↑ "Higgins goes back to his roots". BBC Sport. 9 Mey 2009. Retrieved 12 Mey 2009.
  23. ↑ "Crucible 2010". Snooker Legends Tour. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  24. ↑ "Cancer-stricken Higgins urged by friends to dodge cameras at funeral". The Examiner. 10 October 1997. Archived frae the original on 3 Mey 2007. Retrieved 20 Apryle 2007. Archived 2007-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ a b c Craig, Olga (25 Julie 2010). "Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins dies, aged 61". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  26. ↑ Video on YouTube
  27. ↑ "Bad Boys: Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins". BBC Sport. 11 Apryle 2003. Retrieved 1 Mey 2009.
  28. ↑ a b c "The turbulent life and times of Alex Higgins". The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 Julie 2010.
  29. ↑ Yates, Phil (4 Mey 2007). "Top five controversial incidents". London: Times Online. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  30. ↑ Matchroom Snooker VHS MIS 10002 Warld Trickshot Championship by Mistrial Publishing
  31. ↑ Byrne, Robert. Byrne's Advanced Technique in Pool and Billiards.
  32. ↑ Everton, Clive (25 Julie 2010). "Alex Higgins, snooker's anti-hero, dies aged 61". guardian.co.uk. London.
  33. ↑ a b "Snooker legend Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins dies at 61". BBC. Julie 2010. Archived frae the original on 24 Julie 2010. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  34. ↑ "Alex Hurricane Higgins' last interview". The Belfast Telegraph.
  35. ↑ "Eye of the hurricane". London: The Observer. 6 October 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  36. ↑ "Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins dies, aged 61". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 23 Januar 2016.
  37. ↑ Hattenstone, Simon (16 Juin 2007). "The people's grouch". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  38. ↑ https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/alex-higgins/alex-higgins-lovehate-affair-with-tobacco-28548778.html
  39. ↑ "Snooker star Alex Higgins found dead at Belfast home". Daily Express. 26 Julie 2010. Retrieved 26 Julie 2010.
  40. ↑ Hodgson, Guy (16 October 1998). "Another fight for Higgins: this time it's for his life". London: The Independent. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  41. ↑ a b https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/alex-higgins/alex-higgins-sad-lonely-demise-of-the-peoples-champion-28548785.html
  42. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/8852042.stm
  43. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/apr/01/alex-higgins-admitted-to-hospital
  44. ↑ a b "Alex Higgins 'thought about suicide'". The Belfast Telegraph. 26 Apryle 2010. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  45. ↑ Briggs, Simon (24 Julie 2010). "Snooker mourns as Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins dies aged 61". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 Julie 2010.
  46. ↑ "Cancer-stricken snooker legend Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins fighting for life after contracting pneumonia". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 Januar 2011.
  47. ↑ Tinney, Aaron. "Video: Last footage of Alex Higgins shows cupboards stacked with food... but he couldn't eat a bite". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 Januar 2011.
  48. ↑ Hendon, David (Julie 2010). "Electrifying on the table, combustible off it". London: The Independent. Archived frae the original on 27 Julie 2010. Retrieved 25 Julie 2010.
  49. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/aug/02/alex-higgins-funeral-snooker-belfast
  50. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-10841145
  51. ↑ "Blowing up a storm". BBC Sport. 17 Apryle 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  52. ↑ Thorne, Willie (2004). Double or Quits: The Willie Thorne Story. Liverpool. pp. 140–41.
  53. ↑ Everton, Clive (25 Julie 2010). "Alex Higgins, snooker's anti-hero, dies aged 61". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2 Januar 2011.
  54. ↑ "Snooker Warld Records (16 Red Ball Clearances)". WWW Snooker. Archived frae the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  55. ↑ http://www.trophyroom.co.uk/alexhigginstrophy.html
  56. ↑ http://www.warldsnooker.com/northern-ireland-open-trophy-to-be-named-after-alex-higgins/[deid airtin]
  57. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/37487430
  58. ↑ "The Rack Pack: How Britain fell in love with snooker". www.telegraph.co.uk. 17 Januar 2016.
  59. ↑ "rankin History". Snooker.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  60. ↑ Chris, Turner. "Other Non-rankin and Invition Events: First held before 1980". Chris Turners Snooker Archive. Archived frae the original on 16 Februar 2012. Retrieved 30 Juin 2013.
  61. ↑ a b c "Pro Snooker Blog Profile". Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  62. ↑ Chris, Turner. "Other Non-rankin and Invition Events: First held 1980–1989". Chris Turners Snooker Archive. Archived frae the original on 16 Februar 2012. Retrieved 30 Juin 2013.
  63. ↑ Chris, Turner. "Pontins Open, Pontins Professional, Pontins Warld Pro-Am Series". Chris Turners Snooker Archive. Archived frae the original on 28 Februar 2012. Retrieved 30 Juin 2013.
  64. ↑ "Global Snooker Profile". Global Snooker. Archived frae the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009. Archived 2009-06-16 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

External links
Taen frae "https://sco.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Higgins&oldid=844878"