Alex Higgins won some 20 titles during a professional career that included two world championships. In his heyday ‘the people’s champion’ was probably the most famous player in the sport.

As a child, Alex Higgins showed little interest in school. By the age of 11, however, he had discovered something that did catch his imagination – snooker, which he played first at the Jampot on the Donegall Road, then later at the YMCA in the city centre.

At 16 he scored his first 147 maximum break and at 19 he won two major amateur titles. He moved to England, competing wherever there was a table. It was at this time that promoters gave him the nickname ‘Hurricane’ in reference to his whirlwind-fast style of play.

Bhain Alex Higgins thart fá 20 craobh i rith a ghairme, dhá chraobh an domhain san áireamh. Agus é i mbarr a réime, is dócha go raibh ‘curadh na ndaoine’ ar an imreoir is cáiliúla sa spórt.

Nuair a bhí sé óg, is beag suim a bhí ag Alex sa scolaíocht. Fán am a raibh sé 11 d’aois, áfach, tháinig sé ar rud éigin a raibh an-suim aige ann - an snúcar, rud a d’imir sé den chéad uair ag an Jampot ar Bhóthar Dhún na nGall, agus ag an YMCA i lár na cathrach ina dhiaidh sin.

Nuair a bhí sé 16 d’aois, fuair sé a chéad uasbhriseadh 147, agus nuair a bhí sé 19 d’aois, bhain sé dhá mhórchraobh amaitéaracha. Bhog sé go Sasana ansin, agus chuaigh sé in iomaíocht áit ar bith a bhfuair sé tábla. Is ag an tráth seo a thug poiblitheoirí an leasainm ‘Hurricane’ air, ag tagairt don stíl imeartha s’aige a bhí thar a bheith gasta.

Alex turned professional aged 22 and in 1972 he defeated his mentor John Spencer to win his first world title. He made it to the finals again in 1976 and 1980, losing both, before memorably winning again in 1982. Another famous victory came in 1983 when he recovered from a 0-7 deficit against Steve Davis to take the UK championship 16-15.

There were more titles and memorable moments before the Hurricane’s fortunes began to decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Controversies (on and off the table) erratic behaviour and financial troubles led eventually to the end of his love affair with the game. Occasionally he would still turn up to compete in smaller tournaments, but the magic was gone.

Alex was affectionately known as ‘The George Best of snooker’ – extravagantly gifted, flamboyant and impulsive.

Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins passed away at home in July 2010, with the world’s snooker royalty in attendance at his funeral in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.

Chuaigh Alex leis an snúcar ar bhonn gairmiúil nuair a bhí sé 22 d’aois sa bhliain 1972, fuair sé an ceann is fearr ar a mheantóir John Spencer le craobh an domhain a bhaint den chéad uair. D’éirigh dul a fhad leis an bhabhta ceannais arís in 1976 agus 1980, ach chaill sé an dá uair, sin sular bhain sé arís é sa bhliain 1982. Bhain sé bua éachtach eile amach sa bhliain 1983 nuair a tháinig sé ar ais ó bheith thíos 0-7 in éadan Steve Davis le craobh na Ríochta Aontaithe a bhaint 16-15.

Bhain sé níos mó craobhacha agus rinne sé rudaí eile suntasacha sula ndeachaigh cúrsaí in olcas do Hurricane go mall sna 1980í agus go luath sna 1990í. Tháinig deireadh leis an dúil a bhí aige sa snúcar de bharr conspóidí (ag an tábla agus ar shiúl uaidh), iompar guagach agus deacrachtaí airgid. Ó am go chéile, thagadh sé go fóill le bheith ag imirt i roinnt comórtas níos lú, ach bhí an draíocht imithe.

Tugadh ‘The George Best of Snooker’ mar ainm ceana ar Alex - thar a bheith tallannach, gáifeach agus taghdach.

Fuair Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins bás sa bhaile i mí Iúil 2010, agus tháinig na daoine mór le rá i saol an snúcair chuig an tórramh s’aige in Ardeaglais Naomh Anna, Béal Feirste.