Alex Higgins was an enigma, a once in a generation savant of genius ability. He under achieved massively because of his dysfunctional lifestyle, but what he did achieve changed the game of snooker forever. He managed to take it from an almost forgotten parlour game in British working men's clubs to being watched by millions in the 80's. His natural ability for the game was God given, and was loved by many. As John Lennon would say "a working class hero". RIP Alex Higgins ❤ P.S - stick me on your board mate, Andrew from Aldgate East

@network735

4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely agree, he was so dis functional, imagine if he never drank or gambled !..? He would have been unbeatable in my opinion. Best player to ever hold a cue in my opinion.

@network735

4 жыл бұрын

People do not realise he was drunk most times he played.

@FragFreak

3 жыл бұрын

Freikorps11/11 Are you drunmk?

@network735

3 жыл бұрын

@@FragFreak ha ha oh heah lol

@FragFreak

3 жыл бұрын

Freikorps11/11 How dare you edit and correct your spelling?! Now my comment doesn’t make any sense!!!

He saved snooker. Without him it wouldn’t be close to where it is today. He’s my snooker hero but we should all be grateful to the hurricane for what he bought to the sport RIP SNOOKER LEGEND

@eddiebear34

Жыл бұрын

Davis too

@johnmc3862

9 ай бұрын

​@@eddiebear34Davis was great but he didn't make snooker cool like Higgins.

@eddiebear34

9 ай бұрын

@@johnmc3862 I agree. But if you are a purest and just appreciate the game, Davis was a juggernaut and a pioneer

Now I just realized how difficult was that brown to blue shot using deep screw back and 3 cushions escape but Alex did it easily. Thanks for this video mate. RIP Hurricane. Snooker never forget you and Paul Hunter.

New subscriber here ( living in prague. CZ ). We were in the bar across the road from Goffs in the early 90's, and Alex was there, just about to leave. He wore a green cape, and a dark green fedora with a feather in it. He was cheered by the pub as he left, and he turned and gave them a jaunty wave as he walked past us. A true showman.

Always honour The Hurricane. A difficault man but a brilliant player. May he Rest In Peace. ♡

that shot from the brown is absolutely crazy. If you watch it carefully, you'll notice that the ball actually accelerates from the last cushion to land perfectly on the blue. I have no idea what type of English he had on that ball

@p4rf252

Ай бұрын

He had a bit of bottom right + more bottom right + talent

Greetings from Makati City Philippines, great to see Alex Higgins he was a favorite of mine from the pot black days.

There is something about being so good. An anomaly of behavior. Surely, the brightest burn fastest. Rip. Much love from Kashmir!

I became a snooker fan thanks to the genius of Alex Higgins, the people's champion, a great entertainer, my only cue I possessed had his autograph, RIP.

When I heard that Willie Thorne had passed away, I had a memory of going to see him when I was thirteen and him laughing and joking around the table. Asked my dad about it and it turns out it was Higgins that I saw! :o

The shots he produced were just ridiculous , Greetings from Sargodha , Pakistan !

What a legend. Watching him and Jimmy play pool high as kites always made me laugh. He had a crazy life. The cigarettes did him nasty though. 80 a day is gonna kill anyone. Even the hurricane. Sad to see him so frail at the end. But he is still a legend.

@squirrelpatrick3670

3 жыл бұрын

he was getting some extra stimulation on the bathroom visits wasn't he? I didn't realise at the time being a child

@trappenweisseguy27

Жыл бұрын

Squirrel, his final blowup with the snooker authorities was his immediate and severe reaction upon hearing that drug testing was going to be implemented. He quit the sport on the spot.

@josephgrady2129

7 ай бұрын

He died from Malnutrition/hunger from refusing to eat

He is my inspiration he was legend i love him I am Shahrukh from Quetta Pakistan

I have a framed photo of Alex Higgins on my wall. It’s always exciting watching videos of him playing!

much love from belfast northern Ireland

Been looking for this break for ages and here you are talking it apart! Thank you! :)

Alex made snooker what it became rip Alex thanks for the memories growing up in the 80s 😎🎱👍

I remember cycling home on my Chopper bike and watching the Steve Davies Higgins Final. Higgins shots were super natural. Higgins won and cried. I love your snooker table ❤❤❤

He made generations watch Snooker.!!!On his day this man was simply the best...!!!!

@thestrengthwithin4249

3 жыл бұрын

👏👏👏👏👋

@charlesmckinley8747

3 жыл бұрын

Debatable

@leebeardshall2888

3 жыл бұрын

@@charlesmckinley8747 what is debatable he made snooker hes got people to watch i took the game because of alex Higgins.

@AD-kv9kj

2 жыл бұрын

@@leebeardshall2888 He was fun but I always preferred Jimmy White and Kirk Stevens really. People watch clips and remember only the special shots Higgins played, but actually back then the majority of his matches were pretty dull and he often played very badly too. Most folk seem to have rose-tinted goggles on I think, about literally everything in the past.

@johnmc3862

2 жыл бұрын

@@AD-kv9kj You must have the wrong Higgins. He didn’t win every match but they certainly weren’t dull especially in the early ‘80. Just look at this collections on KZread from lots of diff matches.

Nice video Alex Higgins was the most entertaining snooker player ever wish he was still entertaining us today miss the man RIP ALEX

The man from the Sandy Row made the modern game. Fantastic....

Oh and Willie Thorne RIP too. Another legend of the game

@davidjones4762

3 жыл бұрын

He just played to pay his debts

@jacksonagale2176

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidjones4762 I would too

@BrainFoodCafe

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidjones4762 does that even fukking matter?

Higgins said "visualise it", he saw through all the mathematical complexities of the shot, pure genius.

I could watch these kinds of videos all day long. Thanks

Ironically I watched Alex's last match again last night, he got more applause than Jimmy, Cliff and Parrot combined even when he spotted his opening red.

Never a dull moment with the hurricane. The most entertaining snooker player ever.

His screwback was so deep, the cue ball went nuts, never seen the like of it since

Hats off to you for trying some of Alex's shots....I have always tried to copy some of his shots and cue action and it is so hard....The response he gets out of a cue ball with very little movement is quite incredible as seen in his screw back in his fourth shot of his 69 break frame....He barely pulls his cue back and gets full screw back nearly the length of the table....Just amazing how much response he could get from a cue ball .

You really work hard on your videos. I appreciate your work.

He single handedly made the modern game and entertained generations We have a lot to thank him for

always love your videos, feels so good to see snooker live back on tv

I could watch Higgins all day, every day forever.

Mr. Higgins even when he lost he won!! 🤗🤗💞🤗💞

@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT

4 жыл бұрын

I would say, even when he lost, the audience won :-)

It's because of Alex that snooker was compulsive viewing in the eighties. Also R.I.P Mr Maximum, Willie Thorne, snooker was so entertaining in the eighties and he was a big part of it all, he will be sorely missed.

@lucas29476

3 жыл бұрын

Compulsive viewing? More like compulsory!

@Charlie_Crown

3 жыл бұрын

@@lucas29476 The correct term IS "compulsive" viewing, according to the Collins English Dictionary, and me. Example :- "If a book or television programme is compulsive, it is so interesting that you do not want to stop reading or watching it - eg. The BBC series Hot Chefs is compulsive viewing..." (Collins English Dictionary) Now "compulsory" would mean you have to do something, it's mandatory eg. "If something is compulsory, you must do it or accept it, because it is the law or because someone in a position of authority says you must. adj (=mandatory)In East Germany learning Russian was compulsory..., Many young men are trying to get away from compulsory military conscription." (Collins English Dictionary) Watching an Alex Higgins match was compulsive viewing, must watch tv, but not compulsory, there were no arrest warrants issued for failing to watch Alex, though if you loved snooker, that would undoubtedly have been criminal.

What a fantastic video mate. Alex Higgins will always be a total legend.

Hiya, I watched him at the time, and like everybody else, loved him. Watching this vid, with your excellent insight into those crazy shots has made me love him more. Thanks.

The people’s champ! Much love from Kansas City, Missouri, USA

@RahatAli-il3bn

4 жыл бұрын

1111

@taymorrison

4 жыл бұрын

haha a fellow snooker fan from kc!

@cameronkeoughmathematics6422

4 жыл бұрын

taymorrison Bro which part of KC are you in?? Wanna go to sidepockets??

Love this video. Very well constructed.

This was the best video I’ve seen by you. Great production. Quick and on point. Hello from Japan!

I’ve got to say this is an excellent analysis of Alex’s clearance. Great insight, well done 👍

@alanmctavish4802

2 жыл бұрын

Well said ian millar. Alex cleares those colours as if hes playing on a 6ft table and not a 12ft one. He really was the most naturaly gifted player i have seen. And to end with a pot on the black like that lol and he meant it alright becouse he had done that shot for years at exhibitions when steve was still in nappys! Rip alex you are missesd.

Great video as per. RIP Higgins the legend!

Love this video big Alex fan but really like the shot breakdown. Not seen this hat much before. Well done and much appreciated.

My favourite snooker player of all time. And childhood hero

Incredible. Thanks for explaining and demonstrating just how unique Alex was /is 💙😀

Yank here, I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford from 80-83 and loved watch snooker and cricket. I also fancied a pint or 2, not to mention the local "bird" population. Good times.

I think an equal attribute to the performance of greats like Higgins in sport or the greats of music is that they have brains that work differently that the average person. I think they see in HD to our low definition if you will. As if their eyes magnify the world around us. Maybe the pockets did look bigger to Alex. I love your videos. Thank you.

Thanks for this channel. Just got back into snooker. You're detail and commentary is wonderful. Interesting how Alex's chin was well above cue kind of breaking the rules by today's technique. Also quick movements and not staying down at all. As well as a few wee drinks.

Whoelse can be the better source for the current generation heroes for having a greatest influence on being able to play snooker for passion? None other than Mr. Alex Higgins.... The Father of Snooker.... No one can deny this point.

@metaphysicalmigraine694

4 жыл бұрын

I dare not dispute or have any ill will or repute to refute, yet surely b4 came the awe of Joe Davis, who undefeated may have been too an inspiration for the genius of Alex?

In 1977 Alex played in the C.N.E. Tournament in Toronto. The top 8 professionals from Britain came for about 5 yrs. Alex would play his practise matches with me, each day. The tournament was played in the Automotive building, on the 2nd floor mezzanine. Every day at 3 o'clock, the fashion show downstairs would start with Lionel Richie's song - 3 times a Lady. Three days in a row Alex ran a perfect game, during the song. Alex made 12 to 14 maximums that week, and Willie Thorne and everybody else saw it. Alex was twirling the cue ball into position so sweetly, the ball would stop rolling as it stopped twirling, it looked like an ice cream twirl. After Alex won the paltry $ 5,000 WINNERS PRIZE, HE SAID TO THE AUDIENCE, BOBBY (ME) SHOULD BE IN THE GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS FOR THE MOST MAXIMUMS AGAINST, THE PEOPLE LAUGHED, BUT I WAS SO PROUD, STILL TO THIS DAY, TO HAVE SEEN SUCH PERFORMANCES THAT I GOT TO SEE. THE FOLLOWING YR WHEN THE TOP 8 CAME BACK, I WAS TOLD THAT WILLIE THORNE HAD COMPLETED 99 MAXIMUMS IN 1 YR WHILE WEARING A CAST, I THINK THAT ALEX INSPIRED HIM. ALEX IS STILL MY MR. PERFECT.

@vmax4steve524

4 жыл бұрын

The tables in canada at the time used vitalite balls which were lighter than the super crystalates used in the UK. Cliff Thorburn had trouble adjusting to the SC balls when he first came over to the UK.

@vincentbruce9833

4 жыл бұрын

@@vmax4steve524 The Tournament was played with super chrystilite. I felt betrayed that we had to play with foreign balls. The heavier balls were easier to control, their extra weight on the soft rubber made the pockets play wider. The hard rubber with lighter balls was an interesting difference, Canada had some unknown talent. Crazy Larry liked to make the ce ball dance, I asked Alex to play him, Larry made a shot that astonished Alex, Alex said to Larry, jst for that shot, I am going to run a perfect game on you, and he did, Alex had perfect position on the final black he banked it 4 in the corner instead. Only Alex would do that.

great video, Alex had a true talent and exciting to watch

I was fortunate to see Alex play in the 70s, when most of the masters of that time visited Australia. He was at his whirlwind best when I saw him. One of my treasured life experiences of seeing greatness in action. RIP Hurricane...

Brilliant videos, I watch every one of them! Sam from Adelaide, South Australia

Best player I have seen. Great natural talent.

Awesome video! Watching from Invercargill, New Zealand. Love this 80s content :)

Greetings from Hong Kong. Alex is one of the most entertaining players.

@metaphysicalmigraine694

4 жыл бұрын

Was

Watching your videos for a couple of months now and hello from Dublin Ireland

Jarkko from Lahti, Finland. Quality content you keep producing. Keep up the great work!

Higgins is now a snooker god up there... RIP Alex

Very clean and awesome content love from Jammu , Jammu and Kashmir India .

I don't know why, but this is one of the best videos you've ever done. Nice work.

@Breakfromlife

4 жыл бұрын

To be fair I don’t really know what it was about either

Love your videos watching from wetherby, leeds, England

If Higgins couldn't do it it couldn't be done.

Love you, watching from Hong Kong

Fascinating look into the history of the game and one of its most INTERESTING players When the lockdown is over I will be taking my one piece Steve Davis que out of its Ray Rayrdon case and getting back on the table. Till then its World Championship Snooker 2007 on the XBox 360 for me. Cheers from The frozen North known as Inverness

@10timesover42

3 жыл бұрын

Some games there’s not much point buying the more recent ones. I still play F1 2010

Alex Higgins had a supreme touch....thats why you can't copy him And did you see Davis watching in awe of him? Glad i saw in Derby in 82 before he won 🏆 the 2nd time

Another amazing video ! Bonjour from Normandie in France !

Your Videos are absolutely fabulous! First Class!!! 🔝🔝🔝

Great video! I remember that match, history made! I'm originally from the UK, but I send greetings from my home for the past 5 years in Puerto Plata on the north side of the Dominican Republic. Over the last few weeks, I've designed and built my own custom 7' pool table. Don't have room for 12' snooker, but its what led me to your channel. Cheers!

Your shots help me very well thank you friend

Yes ... No doubt he made snooker more adorable then it was before 🔥🔥❤️

Alex Higgins is my Favourite Snooker Player

Thank you for the great content. Much love, Umar Pasha from Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Oh magic not tragic a treasure of pleasure.🎭✌️ Ty for the break you did very well . Excellent Elucidation. Later Mater 👍

Love your videos .. helping my cravings to get back to playing snooker after lockdown.. tommy .. porthmadog north wales

Everyone loved Alex Higgins. He was the most entertaining player. 👍👍

hey BreakfromLife thanks for this. I believe the secret is the acceleration of the cue through the cue ball, keeping the cue in contact with the cue ball over the longest possible table distance. If you look at the shot Alex plays on the brown there is the most extravagant follow-through.

First time I saw your table and shots you hit. That was a really good video as I grew up in the 70s.

The action he got on the brown is absolutely mind blowing. Erratic as hell, but what player.

Fantasic video enjoyed every minute of it . Top videos.👍👍👍

My dad always talks about Alex Higgins as being the best player of all time, that may or may not be true considering Lee Hendri and Ronnie O'Sullivan but it just proves how memorable he was.

Alex was my countryman. The only snooker player that could throw snooker balls down a 6X12 foot table and pump them in while the balls were in motion. No one else alive or dead could do this.

@ultrademigod

3 жыл бұрын

Hendry might have been the best technician of the game, and Sullivan is the most complete player, Alex Higgins was without doubt the greatest natural potter to have played the game.

Amazing video ❤️❤️❤️

I love your channel. From Belém, Pará, Noth of Brazil.

No one can do that like what Alex did even Ronnie O’Sullivan,I really miss him so much...

great video ! Thanks

Fantastic video - hi from Dublin (via Ballyclare, County Antrim). I saw Alex at Drumbo greyhound track near Belfast not long before he died - he was very frail, it was a sad sight. Best to remember him like this.

Another great video. From Winnipeg Canada

Alex Higgins is on another level, it is amazing how easily he played snooker. It is a pity that 4K technology did not exist in its day.

@ahassen1236

4 жыл бұрын

1080 would've done

@gurditrehal3348

3 жыл бұрын

4K still isn't used in snooker

@10timesover42

3 жыл бұрын

I mean, 1080p basically did. Your original analog rolls of film were at least 1080p. Not for TV though

@gurditrehal3348

3 жыл бұрын

@@10timesover42 It depends on the film gauge. 35mm film (the stuff used for movies) would've been a bit better than 4K. 16mm film would've been closer to 1080p. And IMAX 15/70 is like 18K

@10timesover42

3 жыл бұрын

Gurdit Rehal That’s the kinda info I was looking for! Thanks man

Love watching your videos, from Trabzon, Turkey

@vaderistik

3 жыл бұрын

Türk snooker severleri görmek güzel, selamlar...

I love your channel! Greetings from Taunton!

Bro keep it up 👍 I am from india, punjab😁🤣🤣

Wish, I would have been able to see him play live ☹️

Great vid man

Hi from Preston, England. I was sat in the Guild Hall for Alex's 1st Round match against Rex Williams that year. And even though I was only 8 years old, I remember him playing to the crowd more than his actual snooker. As I recall, before the match started, he watered the (plastic) flowers with his jug. Knowing what Higgins usually consumed during matches, I'm surprised they didn't wilt.

Great video, as always. Learned a lot from you, thanks for that...and, yeah, throw me on your chart :-) Greetings from Dagmersellen, Switzerland

Fantastic video

I still have my father's old bus pass with Alex's autograph on the back! (my father met him in a pub)

@syedmoin2382

4 жыл бұрын

Can you please send me the picture ?? Please

@byromtaylor6482

4 жыл бұрын

always signed that smiley face

Love the cuts to your snooker den

Enjoying your content from Round Rock, TX -- Dan L.

Brilliant video! Hello from Stavanger, Norway