Higgins to face court hearing in two weeks

ALEX HIGGINS, charged with breach of the peace, had his case adjourned for two weeks by Stockport magistrates.

The two-times world champion, now ranked 99th, is to play Darren Limburg in the fifth qualifying round of the Embassy World Championship at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool today.

It was alleged that in a midnight fracas at the Pymgate hotel, Gatley, Higgins grabbed a resident by the throat and attempted to throw him through a plate-glass window.

Higgins, who spent the night in the cells after police were called, has himself been a resident of the £50-a-night hotel since October. The hotel disclosed that this had been reduced to a special rate of £30 and was being paid direct by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Benevolent Fund (WPBSA).

At last month's AGM it emerged that the benevolent fund had not been audited for three years. Requests for further information were refused on the grounds that all payments were confidential.

Higgins has an outstanding High Court action against various WPBSA executives and board members alleging unfair treatment at two disciplinary hearings.