Despite his many talents, Alex Higgins was a notorious character. His volatile temperament, frequent arguments and unpredictable personality made him a controversial figure. He was not a "right type", and his uninhibited lifestyle were noticed by the national news.
In the 1990 World Snooker Championship, Alex Higgins was beaten in the opening round by Steve James. After winning the semi-final, he won the final by a score of 18-15 against Ray Reardon. 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 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 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 by a pall bearer. 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. Holly Haise was his ex-girlfriend and stabbed Higgins in the arm three times. The long fight with throat cancer was another obstacle in his life. He died in 2010, at the age 61. His funeral was held at St Anne's Cathedral 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. In fact, he was banned from the popular snooker TV show Pot Black, because he frequently got into trouble with the authorities.
Higgins lived in danger and was often out of country. 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 also got into a brawl with Dennis Taylor and threatened to shoot him in the World Cup. He was not able to prove he hurt anyone, so the police investigation was dropped.
Higgins was often the topic of controversy because of his frequent arguments, and his high alcohol intake. He was a habitual user of cocaine and had been diagnosed as having throat cancer. He also struggled with the attention he was getting. He had no manager and was often captivated by the audience. But, his talent was evident and he was a huge box office hit.
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 fought and won against the best players in the world, but always had an air of menace about him.