Birthday Celebration

Snooker legend Higgins dies, 61

0 Comments | Daily Post; Liverpool (UK), Jul 26, 2010 | by SARA THOMAS

FRIENDS of Alex “Hurricane” Higgins have vowed to send the snooker great off in style, using pounds 10,000 raised for his medical treatment to fund a lavish funeral.

The troubled genius of the table was discovered dead in his Belfast sheltered home on Saturday after years battling throat cancer.

As the snooker community mourned the loss of a “genius” with a cue, friends at his local pub in Belfast toasted the 61-year-old’s memory.

Inside the Royal Bar, drinking pals raised a glass by the empty seat where Higgins spent so many nights.

The pub is in the heart of the Sandy Row area of Belfast where the mercurial legend of the game grew up and stands opposite the sheltered housing block where he was found dead yesterday.

Despite squandering his winnings in a life blighted by drink and gambling, friends were adamant that Higgins The Northern Irishman’s friend and former personal assistant Will Robinson said the remaining money from an auction and Manchester fundraising dinner will be used to give the snooker star a “great send-off”.

“There was pounds 15,000, there’s probably about pounds 10,000 in total when we get everything in. Now that’s going to pay for a great send off,” he said.

Funeral details have not yet been finalised and Mr Robinson said there may be a delay to allow his friend and fellow player Jimmy White to return from Thailand.

“He’s asked to hold things up until he gets back. That’s the plan and the family have agreed to that,” Mr Robinson said.

Higgins became the youngest World Championship winner at his first attempt, beating John Spencer in 1972: he claimed the title a second time in 1982.

Despite numerous fights and rows with referees, he continued to play regularly and inspired a generation of players to take up the game.

would be given a proper send off
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