Alex Higgins, despite his many talents was a well-known character. His volatile temperament and frequent arguments made him a polarising figure. He was not seen as a "right type" and his uninhibited lifestyle was spotted by the national press.
Steve James defeated Alex Higgins in the first round of the 1990 World Snooker Championship. He defeated Ray Reardon in the semi-final to win the final. Higgins became the first person to qualify for four consecutive semifinals. The following season, however, he was defeated by Jimmy White in the semi-finals and Davy Ferguson, in the final.
During his career, Alex Higgins had long-term problems with alcohol and smoking. In 1998, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He played snooker for many years and was the first Irish player ever to win the World Title in 2006.
Alex "Hurricane" Higgins was a fast shotmaker in his prime. As evidenced by his open-necked shirt, he was also a very flamboyant character. He often had a pall bearer accompany him. He was also a devoted smoker. He joined over 200 other smokers to sue Benson & Hedges in 2006.
Higgins was a prolific gambler, and he had many vices throughout his career. Holly Haise, Higgins' ex-girlfriend claimed that she stabbed him three times in his arm. His life was also complicated by a long battle with throat cancer. He died in 2010 aged 61. His funeral was held in St Anne's Cathedral Belfast.
Alex "Hurricane", Higgins had a reputation of being reckless and anti hero. He was a wild character with a volatile temperament that made him difficult for people to work with. He was even banned from the popular snooker TV series Pot Black because he got in trouble with the authorities.
Higgins was always out of town and lived on the edge. Lynn Higgins, his wife was once overcome with emotion after he won matches. Lauren, Higgins' daughter, was brought onto the Crucible stage following the World Championship. He threatened to shoot Dennis Taylor in the World Cup earlier in that season, and was also involved in an altercation. 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 also had a hard time dealing with the attention he was getting. 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 was a fighter and won against some of the most skilled players in the world. However, he always exuded a sense of menace.