SNOOKER

Alex Higgins

1949 - 2010

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Alexander Gordon Higgins (18 March 1949 – 24 July 2010) was a Northern Irish professional snooker player and a two-time world champion who is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. Nicknamed "Hurricane Higgins" for his rapid play, and known as the "People's Champion" for his popularity and charisma, he is often credited as a key figure in snooker's success as a mainstream televised sport in the 1980s. Higgins turned professional in 1970 and won the World Snooker Championship in 1972, defeating John Spencer 37‍–‍31 in the final to become the first qualifier to win the world title, a feat that only three other players—Terry Griffiths in 1979, Shaun Murphy in 2005 and Zhao Xintong in 2025—have achieved since. Aged 22, he was then the sport's youngest world champion, a record he held until 21-year-old Stephen Hendry won the title in 1990. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Alex Higgins is the 6th most popular snooker (down from 2nd in 2019), the 3,099th most popular biography from United Kingdom (down from 2,356th in 2019) and the 5th most popular British Snooker.

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Among SNOOKERS

Among snookers, Alex Higgins ranks 6 out of 67. Before him are John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Paul Hunter, and Shaun Murphy. After him are Ali Carter, Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths, Ray Reardon, Stephen Hendry, and Jimmy White.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1949, Alex Higgins ranks 341. Before him are Luís Pereira, Paulo César Carpegiani, Zé Mário, Paul Nurse, Trevor Jones, and Patti LuPone. After him are Alfred Riedl, Dutch Mantel, Nené, Francisco Maturana, Yūsaku Matsuda, and John Haglelgam. Among people deceased in 2010, Alex Higgins ranks 221. Before him are Valentina Tolkunova, Marina Semyonova, Ed Roberts, Kenneth Noland, Robin Milner, and Vitaly Sevastyanov. After him are Laurent Terzieff, Hank Jones, Chushiro Hayashi, Otmar Suitner, Yuri Ilyenko, and Hans Ørberg.

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In United Kingdom

Among people born in United Kingdom, Alex Higgins ranks 3,100 out of 8,785. Before him are Matthew Locke (1621), Laura Mulvey (1941), Janet Baker (1933), Robin Milner (1934), Ronald Speirs (1920), and Philip Stone (1924). After him are Thomas Francis Wade (1818), Terry Venables (1943), Richard Hammond (1969), David Gray (1968), Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester (1640), and Alan Cox (1968).

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Among SNOOKERS In United Kingdom

Among snookers born in United Kingdom, Alex Higgins ranks 5. Before him are John Higgins (1975), Ronnie O'Sullivan (1975), Paul Hunter (1978), and Shaun Murphy (1982). After him are Ali Carter (1979), Steve Davis (1957), Terry Griffiths (1947), Ray Reardon (1932), Stephen Hendry (1969), Jimmy White (1962), and Mark Williams (1975).

British born Snookers

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