Alex Higgins, despite his many talents was a well-known character. His volatile personality and incessant arguments made him a controversial figure. He was not seen as a "right type" and his uninhibited lifestyle was spotted by the national press.
Steve James defeated Alex Higgins during the 1990 World Snooker Championship. He defeated Ray Reardon in the semi-final to win the final. Higgins became the first player to qualify for four consecutive finals. The following season, however, he was defeated by Jimmy White in the semi-finals and Davy Ferguson, in the final.
Alex Higgins suffered from long-term alcoholism and smoking problems throughout his career. He was also diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. He played snooker throughout his life and in 2006, became the first Irish player with the world title.
Alex "Hurricane” Higgins, in his prime, was a quick shotmaker. His open-necked shirt shows that he was a confident character. He often had a pall bearer accompany him. He was also a keen smoker, and in 2006 he joined more than 200 smokers in suing Benson & Hedges, a snooker sponsor.
Higgins was a prolific gambler, and he had many vices throughout his career. Holly Haise, his ex-girlfriend, stabbed Higgins three times in the arm. He also lost his battle with throat carcinoma, which complicated his life. He died in 2010 at age 61. His funeral was held at St Anne's Cathedral Belfast.
Alex "Hurricane” Higgins earned a reputation for being reckless and anti-heroic. He was always a wild character, and his volatile temperament made him difficult to work with. In fact, he was banned from the popular snooker TV show Pot Black, because he frequently got into trouble with the authorities.
Higgins was frequently out of the country and lived near the edge. His wife, Lynn, once cried after he won a match, and his daughter, Lauren, was brought on to the Crucible stage after he won the World Championship. He threatened to shoot Dennis Taylor in the World Cup earlier in that season, and was also involved in an altercation. He was not able to prove he hurt anyone, so the police investigation was dropped.
Higgins was often the subject of controversy, as evidenced by his frequent arguments and frequent alcohol consumption. Higgins was a regular user of cocaine, and had been told he had throat cancer. He had difficulty coping with the constant attention. He was frequently captivated by the crowd and had no manager. His talent made him a big box office draw.
Alex "Hurricane" was a fast shotmaker who had a great talent, but was always undermined by his talent. He was a rebel and an anti hero. He beat the best players of the world and won, but he had an air that was unnerving.