- Born
- DiedJuly 24, 2010 · Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK (malnutrition, pneumonia, a bronchial condition and tooth decay)
- Birth nameAlexander Gordon Higgins
- Nicknames
- Hurricane Higgins
- The Hurricane
- Sandy
- Higgy
- Height5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
- Alex Higgins was one of the greatest, and most exuberant, snooker players of all-time. He won two World Championship titles, first in 1972 against John Spencer, and second in 1982 against Ray Reardon. In addition, he also won two Masters titles, in 1978 and 1981, and one UK Championship title in 1983. Victories in these three events make him one of only ten players to-date who have completed snooker's Triple Crown.
He was also the World Doubles champion in 1984, partnering his longtime friend Jimmy White, and he won the Snooker World Cup three times with the All-Ireland team in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
Alex was a heavy drinker and chain smoker, which affected his general health throughout his troubled career. His fantastic playing disappeared and he dropped down the world rankings, eventually retiring in 1997.
In his later years, he battled against against throat cancer and, although he became quite frail, he still managed to play in various exhibition matches. Alex died in his flat on July 24, 2010 by way of malnutrition and pneumonia.
- IMDb mini biography by: Oscar "Larre" Larsson
- SpousesLynn Higgins(1980 - 1985) (divorced, 2 children)Cara Hasler(April 1975 - ?) (divorced, 1 child)
- In the late 90s he was stabbed by girlfriend Holly Haise while living in her house in Belfast.
- He once had an argument with his girlfriend which resulted in him falling off the balcony of their first-floor flat. Soon after, he entered the 1989 British Open while hopping around the table nursing a broken ankle.
- His numerous scuffles and offenses over the years included attacking an official who asked for a urine sample at the 1986 UK Championship, threatening to have rival Dennis Taylor shot in their home country of Northern Ireland, and urinating in a plant pot during a tournament.
- Was a friend of the hell-raising actor Oliver Reed.
- In 1995 he played for Team Europe (alongside Jimmy White and Steve Davis), when they beat Team USA in the Mosconi Cup, a 9-ball pool event.
- [when asked if he wished things had been different in his life] "Yes, I could have been a golfer"
- [on his sport, Snooker]: I had such a great affection and love for playing snooker. I suppose, in a way, it's like a drug.
- [asked which of his achievements in life he felt most proud of] My daughter being born. I felt that, at the age of 32, I had become a man.
- The tobacco companies and snooker were as thick as thieves. Obviously I think that they have got their advertising for a song for 25 years. Cigarettes are everywhere in snooker. Freebies everywhere. Most players were given free cigarettes.
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