Alex Higgins: Northern Irish World Snooker Champion and Influential Attacking Player

Major achievements

Higgins won the World Snooker Championship twice. His first world title came in 1972 when he beat John Spencer in the final, and he reclaimed the championship in 1982 with a victory over Ray Reardon (18–15). His energetic approach and crowd-pleasing break-building helped raise snooker’s profile in the 1970s and 1980s.

Career and style

• Turned professional in 1972 and became one of the sport’s most recognisable figures.
• Renowned for fast tactical decisions and an aggressive shot selection that contrasted with many contemporaries.
• Played in many high-profile matches and contributed to snooker’s growing television audience during his peak years.

Health and later life

Higgins was a heavy smoker for much of his life, reportedly consuming up to 60 cigarettes a day at times. In June 1998 he was diagnosed with throat cancer; by the time of his death he had been declared free of that cancer. He died in Belfast on 24 July 2010 at the age of 61. The medical report listed a combination of malnutrition, pneumonia and a chronic bronchial condition as causes contributing to his death.

Legacy

Alex Higgins is remembered both for his two world titles and for a style that influenced later generations of players. His fast, flamboyant approach made him a popular and sometimes controversial figure in snooker history.