Warm words spoke of Hurricane

I've spent most of my day scouring through the media reading the countless obituraies in memory of the great Alex Higgins.

Even now, I'm not tired of learning more about what this great man gave our sport.

I just wish I could be a little bit older to have fully appreciated his vast talents.

While warm words have been shared about the two-time world champion, OnCue bring you some of the very best...





"In his prime, he could play brilliantly in an imitable way even, at times, well enough to give himself the illusion of the omnipotence he craved to keep at bay the vulnerability he feared."

Clive Everton, The Observer

"The ride may be over, but the memories will live forever."

Frank Brownlow, Belfast Telegraph

"But in an era when all the top players were household names, Alex Higgins was the most vibrant star of them all. He was, in the words of his rival Steve Davis, 'the one true genius that snooker has produced' - a man who could perform shots that other mortals would find impossible."

Leo Mckinstry, Daily Mail

"He did not get along with everyone in the snooker world, far from it. No one, though, could deny the immense contribution he made to its popularisation and all, in the immediate aftermath of his passing, wanted to dwell on his best side."

Clive Everton, The Guardian

"There were to be many more emotional moments in a life lived without compromise. Higgins could have accumulated more silverware than he did were it not for his volcanic temperament but his capacity to find trouble ensured he retained a huge fascination and, therefore, a sizeable following."

David Hendon, Independent

"Because there is no question without the Hurricane snooker would never have become what it did. He transformed the game. It wasn't just the way he played it – the speed, the grace, the athleticism – it was the box office pull of his character."

Jim White, Telegraph

"Sold-out halls from Wythenshawe to Oldham were packed to the rafters with fans eager to get a glimpse of the then-dour sport’s new sensation – the so-called ‘Hurricane’ who fizzed around the baize making impossible pots look easy."

Mike Keegan, Manchester Evening Post

RIP Alex, you legend!

Where were you on the night Alex Higgins died?

The answer to this question is one all snooker fans will remember forever.

Ironically, I was in my local snooker club when the news broke. I was trotting round the table to check a red potted past the black, when someone on a computer at the other side of the bar shouted the news.

At first I nearly choked, then I took a huge gulp in sadness. What had just been said, hit me for six.

I'm only 23-years-old, and not really old enough to remember him playing at the top of his game forst hand, but I'm clued up enough to know that he's an absolute hero.

I can only report on heresay but no player has since or ever before him interacted with a crowd like he did. It is because of him the public still follow the game today.

He's a player who is most snookers fans' hero. He was renowned for his entertaining style of play.

He was twice snooker champion of the world. Arguable, he should have won more, but his contribution was more than silverware.

The legendary Steve Davis once said he was scared of playing him, such was his aura around the table.

So today, snooker has lost a legend, one of its biggest players of all time, in fact. This is a dark day for the game. There will not be many sadder days in the sport than this.

Aged 61, the Hurricane was found dead in his flat in Belfast, after years of fighting against throat cancer.

It really is no age at all. But rather than dwell on the demise of this hero, I think it's more fitting to celebrate the wonderful contribution he made to our sport.

Sit back, enjoy, and hold backs the tears if you can.