Alex Higgins dies after long battle with cancer (original) (raw)

Former snooker player Alex Higgins has died at the age of 61. The two-time world champion, nicknamed 'Hurricane', had been suffering from throat cancer for a number of years.

Higgins will be remembered for his flamboyant playing style that attracted the loyal support of thousands of snooker fans, and is credited with being one of the greatest talents the game has seen. At 22 Higgins won the World Championship at his first attempt in 1972, and again in 1982.

He was instrumental in driving the growth in popularity of snooker throughout the 1970s and 1980s, aided by television coverage, and inspired many future professionals to take up the game.

Snooker promoter Barry Hearn said Higgins would be remembered as the "original people's champion" and the man who transformed the popularity of the sport. "I have known him for nearly 40 years," Hearn said. "He was the major reason for snooker's popularity in the early days. He was controversial at times, but he always played the game in the right spirit. We will miss him – he was the original people's champion."

Higgins was discovered at a block of flats in the centre of Belfast. He had been unwell for some time.

The player had not been answering his mobile phone and the flat had to be broken into, sources close to him said.