Alex Higgins is a famous character, despite all his talents. 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 at the 1990 World Snooker Championship in the opening round. After winning the semi-final, he won the final by a score of 18-15 against Ray Reardon. Higgins became the first player to qualify for four consecutive finals. But, Higgins lost to Jimmy White and Davy Ferguson in their semi-finals the next season.
Alex Higgins experienced long-term issues with smoking and alcohol during his career. In 1998, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He still played snooker and won the 2006 world title.
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 was often accompanied at all times by a pallbearer. He was also a passionate smoker. In 2006, he joined over 200 others in suing Benson & Hedges for being a snooker sponsor.
Higgins had many vices during his career. He used alcohol, cocaine, gambling, and other drugs. He was also stabbed by his ex-girlfriend Holly Haise, who claimed to have stabbed him three times in the arm. The long fight with throat cancer was another obstacle in his life. He died in 2010 aged 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 a wild character and 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 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 also got into a brawl with Dennis Taylor and threatened to shoot him in the World Cup. But the police dropped his case because there wasn't enough evidence to show he had hurt anyone.
Higgins was a frequent subject of controversy due to his frequent arguments and excessive alcohol consumption. He was addicted to cocaine and had been given throat cancer. He also struggled with the attention he was getting. He had no manager and was often captivated by the audience. His talent proved to be a draw for the box office.
Alex "Hurricane", also known as Alex, was a quick shotmaker with a tremendous talent but was constantly undermined by his talent. He was an anti-hero and a rebel. He beat the best players of the world and won, but he had an air that was unnerving.