Snooker has lost one of its most colourful figures following the death of Alex Higgins. The two-time world champion, known as the 'Hurricane' by his legion of fans, died of throat cancer in his home city of Belfast aged 61. He had been fighting the disease for more than a decade.
Higgins is credited with dragging snooker into the public eye in the 1970s and '80s with his flamboyant style of play and extravagant lifestyle which saw him become a regular on the party scene and strike up a friendship with fellow Ulsterman George Best.
Higgins, who was born in Belfast on March 19th, 1949, started playing snooker at the age of 11 and won the All-Ireland and Northern Ireland amateur snooker championships in 1968.
After turning professional he became the youngest World Championship winner at his first attempt, beating John Spencer in 1972.
His record was beaten when 21-year-old Stephen Hendry claimed the trophy in 1990.
Higgins was beaten in the World Championship finals in 1976 and 1980 but claimed the title for a second time in 1982.
That final produced one of the most endearing moments in the sport's history when a tearful Higgins urged his then wife Lynn and baby out of the audience to share his moment of glory.
There was a dark side to this flawed genius, however. He was banned from five tournaments and fined £12,000 in 1986 when he headbutted UK Championship tournament director Paul Hatherell.
In 1990, Higgins threatened to have fellow player Dennis Taylor shot and he was banned for the rest of the season after he punched a tournament director at the World Championships.
Higgins underwent surgery to remove cancer from his throat in 1998. By then he was a heavy drinker and smoker with both addictions seriously affecting his health.
Higgins had also squandered the money he had earned in his heyday and in his latter years lived in sheltered housing on the Donegall Road in Belfast.
In the last months of his life, he had desperately tried to raise the £20,000 that he needed for teeth implants.
In March, Higgins spent six days in Belfast City hospital suffering from pneumonia but signed himself out to play against his fellow former world champion, Cliff Thorburn, in the Snooker Legends Tour in Sheffield.
He opted out of the rest of the tour on health grounds.
Speaking earlier this year, Higgins recalled his impact on the game.
"I think I was the most natural, charismatic player who ever lifted a cue," he said. "I think my presence around the table was mesmerising at times. It captured people.
"I'm not saying this to bolster my own ego. It's what people tell me. People stop me in the street every day and say 'when you coming back Alex, when you going to show these so-and-sos who claim to be snooker players how to play the game?'
"I say I'm not healthy enough as yet. But I'd love to."
Sadly, he will not get the opportunity with former rival Steve Davis leading the tributes.
"He had that magnetism that is rare in sport and he was demonstrative around the table. He drew people who would not necessarily have watched snooker to the game," said Davis.
PA