Alex Higgins would have turned 62 today.It seems fitting that the professional snooker circuit is in Ireland on such a day. It was at Goffs in County Kildare that Higgins won his last major title, the 1989 Irish Masters.
It was not long after he had broken his ankle after falling from the window of his flat following a row with his then partner.
Higgins was thought to be a fading star. His opponent in the final, 20 year-old Stephen Hendry, was very much in the ascendancy.
Goffs showring created a unique atmosphere still much missed by players and everyone else on the circuit.
They pulled for Higgins, of course, although Hendry also had his fans. It was a great match which the Hurricane finally won 9-8.
Unfortunately for him he was required to play in the World Championship qualifiers in Preston the next day and, though he was certainly playing well enough to mount a challenge at the Crucible, was beaten by Darren Morgan.
As time passes after his death, the myths and legends around him will grow.
One thing will never be in doubt, though: Alex Higgins was a great snooker player.
5 comments:
R.I.P. and happy 62nd birthay Alex 'HURRICANE' HIGGINS. I will be watching a few tapes of him and having a drink as a tribute to him later. He will never truly die. Great man, Flawed genius, Lovable rouge e.t.c. Whatever you lable him as, He always was and will always remain, A"People's Champion." Snooker was, and indeed is, lucky to have him. R.I.P. Alexander Gordon Higgins.
When Mohamed Ali burst on the scene like a bolt from the blue the boxing fraternity and everyone else were astounded. How on earth could a heavyweight box in such a way - he broke all the rules. And the old guard in snooker must have had the same thoughts and feelings when Alex came along. Joe Davis used to chuckle to himself at the shots Alex played and the style in which he played them. Given that snooker is such a hugely difficult game to play he was a true original. He didn't have coaches or watch videos he just did it his way. And what a wonderfully exciting way it was, never seen before. Snooker could never have bought the publicity Alex brought to the game (good and bad). As we know there is no such thing as bad publicity. People who were never interested in snooker,who never knew one end of a cue from the other, all knew about Alex. It will be a travesty if a statue is not erected in his memory. After all he alone invented modern snooker. Alex may be gone but he will never be forgotten. So R.I.P and God be with you babe.
Missed by many & never forgotten.True genius.The ONLY Peoples Champion. Lovely & generous everytime we met.RIP my hero & friend
RIP Alex, I met him once playing pool, he was a legend, never got to say much to him but thats the way it was.
I have a VHS tape of the 1982 world championship and have converted it to dvd.
Does anyone have footage of his 1989 goffs win? Could swap/ upload / download if interested?
Dublin Fan
"One thing will never be in doubt, though: Alex Higgins was a great snooker player."
Indeed, and that's how he should be remembered... Still amazes me today when I watch him play how he could pot so many balls with so many body parts moving while he was stroking. Man, that's talent...
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