Alex Higgins was not only a talented musician, but he was also a notorious personality. His volatile temperament and frequent arguments made Higgins polarizing. The national media noticed his uninhibited lifestyle and he was not considered the "right" type.
In the 1990 World Snooker Championship, Alex Higgins was beaten in the opening round by Steve James. After winning the semifinal, he beat Ray Reardon 18-15 to win his final. Higgins became the first person to qualify for four consecutive semifinals. But, Higgins lost to Jimmy White and Davy Ferguson in their semi-finals the next season.
Alex Higgins was a long-term smoker and had problems with alcohol throughout his career. In 1998, he was also diagnosed by throat cancer. 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 was often accompanied at all times by a pallbearer. He was also a keen smoker, and in 2006 he joined more 200 smokers in suing Benson & Hedges (a snooker sponsor).
Higgins abused alcohol, drugs, and gambling during his career. He was also stabbed by his ex-girlfriend Holly Haise, who claimed to have stabbed him three times in the arm. He also lost his battle with throat carcinoma, which complicated his life. He died in 2010 aged 61. His funeral took place at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.
Alex "Hurricane” Higgins was known 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 often out of the country, and he lived on the edge of danger. 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. However, the police prosecution was dropped because there was no proof he actually hurt anyone.
Higgins was often the topic of controversy because of his frequent arguments, and his high alcohol intake. He had a cocaine habit, and had been diagnosed with throat cancer. He struggled to deal with the amount of attention he was receiving. He was frequently captivated by the crowd and had no manager. His talent made him a big box office draw.
Alex "Hurricane", who was a fast shootmaker, had great talent, but was always thwarted by his talent. He was a rebellious, anti-hero. He beat the best players of the world and won, but he had an air that was unnerving.