Alex Higgins was an infamous character despite his many talents. His volatile temperament, frequent arguments and unpredictable personality made him a controversial figure. The national media noticed his uninhibited lifestyle and he was not considered the "right" type.
Steve James defeated Alex Higgins in the first round of the 1990 World Snooker Championship. With a score of 18-15, he defeated Ray Reardon to win the semi-final. Higgins became the first person to qualify for four consecutive semifinals. However, the following season, he lost to Jimmy White in the semi-final and Davy Ferguson in the final.
During his career, Alex Higgins had long-term problems with alcohol and smoking. In 1998, he was also diagnosed as having 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 an accomplished shotmaker during his prime. Higgins was also a bold character as shown by his open-necked shirt. 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.
During his career, Higgins had numerous vices, including alcohol, cocaine and gambling. He was also stabbed by his ex-girlfriend Holly Haise, who claimed to have stabbed him three times in the arm. His life was further complicated by his long battle against throat cancer. He died at the age of 61 in 2010. His funeral was held at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.
Alex "Hurricane" Higgins had a reputation as a reckless and anti hero. He was an unpredictable character who made it difficult to work together. He was actually banned from the popular TV snooker show Pot Black for getting into trouble with the police.
Higgins was always out of town and lived on the edge. Lynn, his wife cried one time after Higgins won a match. Lauren was brought to Crucible after he had won the World Championship. He was also involved in a brawl and threatened to shoot fellow player Dennis Taylor in the World Cup earlier that season. He was not able to prove he hurt anyone, so the police investigation was dropped.
Higgins was an often controversial figure, as shown by his frequent arguments or alcohol consumption. He had a cocaine habit, and had been diagnosed with throat cancer. He had difficulty coping with the constant attention. His charisma was captivating, and he did not have a manager. However, when his talent was on display, he was a box office draw.
Alex "Hurricane", who was a fast shootmaker, had great talent, but was always thwarted by his talent. He was rebellious and anti-hero. He defeated the best players in the game, but had an air of menace.