The sport could do with a few more like him, it might liven it up again.

True sporting legend

Apparently Higgins used to live in Warrington -anyone confirm this ?

I heard that he was a regular at one Warrington pub (The Royal Oak Branch IIRC) and used to practise his snooker there. In exchange for a couple of pints he'd take on the regulars - thereby getting his practice in as well as his ale.

Also as mentioned in above posts, had also heard that he wasn't keen on giving autographs, mainly because it was a one way process that he didn't get any benefit from. So he used to charge a couple of quid for them, so that both parties got what they wanted - some beer money for him, and a potentially valuable autograph for the fan.

This just what I'd heard from someone in Warrington that knew him, so can't vouch for whether it's correct or not - anyone any more anecdotes?

RIP Snooker Legend, they don't make them like they used to.

Can't believe there is a thread about this, yes he won the world title and had a chance to be something, but turned into a head butting Defecating in public fool who had it all but not the sense to realise it.

Its a shame when anybody die's, but don't try and make him out to be some kind of super hero because he most certainly wasn't

How can you class a wife beater, a rude drunk and someone that assaulted a referee a legend ?

Yes its very sad that he`s passed away, he was a very talented snooker player but if this had been a rugby league player that had done all of the above then people would have been screaming for him to be banned for good.

RIP

He may not have been a paragon of virtue (for a variety of reasons not least his medical conditions) but can we show some restraint on this thread. I know RL Fans is unlikely to receive a defamation claim post mortem but it really sits uncomfortably with me.

I will always remember Alex Higgins as the most technically gifted snooker player of all time and a childhood hero.

Rest in peace.

Not a chance...... Ronnie O'sullivan is by an absolute mile.

I knew we would catch the penny and miss the pound on this one. My sentiment was that we should not really be defaming dead people on RL fans.

If you will contrast Higgins with O'Sullivan, as it seems you must, then you must also realise that Ronnie said that [i"He is a legend of snooker, and should forever be remembered as the finest ever snooker player."[/i

he is hardly going to say ' He is a legend of snooker, and should forever be remembered as someone that wasn't as good as me'.

I'm not saying Higgins wasn't a great player... I am disagreeing with your comment that you will remember Higgins as the most technically gifted player of all time...

O'Sullivan need not have said anything about his ability if he had not wanted to. My memory may be flawed, as you suggest, but I recall him pulling off shots at the Crucible and later at Spectrum Birchwood which were ahead of his time and made the audience gasp. Ronnie says he was his "inspiration".

Anyway fair enough we can argue over his relative ability, but even if he was not a virtuoso of the sport we should not be calling him a wife beater etc etc on a VIP thread in my view. It lacks taste and common decency.

He was a supremely talented snooker player who gave joy to millions and battled with mental illness, cancer and alcoholism to the end. Anyone with blood in their veins can see this as a tragic story.

Rest in peace.

It just shows what ale and cigs can do to you. Without them this man would have been the best player in the world throughout his career. RIP alex,not everyone's cup of tea,but a brilliant snooker player.

Alex Higgins did live in Warrington for a time but at the Royal Oak at the bottom of Bridge street, sorry I've no idea what's called now.

Last Orders?

How apt.

Ah yes, O'Sullivan......the "modern" Alex Higgins.