Higgins: ‘I would like to announce my retirement from professional snooker. I’m finished with snooker … You can stuff your snooker up your jacksie. I’m not playing no more.’ Gods of Snooker I, BBC 2021
This is the story of how for a remarkable period in the ’80s the game of snooker became a national obsession. Its unlikely heroes a golden generation of players the likes of which the world had never seen. Their almost supernatural talent outmatched only by the intensity of their rivalry. And a Kamikaze willingness to test their own limits. ibid.
Growing up in a working-class part of Belfast in the ’60s, Alex would gamble his school dinner money against grown men in his local snooker club which was called the The Jam Pot. ibid.
‘Pot Black is such an important part of snooker history.’ ibid. Steve Davis
I would say that was the biggest bollock we ever dropped. Gods of Snooker II, Steve Davis re appearing at Conservative rally with the line, ‘I didn’t realise how important it was to pot reds then’
Kirk Stevens confessed to being a cocaine addict. ibid. news
The police came round trying to find Alex and he had pulled a gun. ibid. Rex Williams
He was like the Tiger Woods of his day. He was some player. ibid. Gary Lineker
Higgins v Davis: After the first session Higgins found himself trailing 7-0 … ibid. commentary
You need somebody on your side … People like that [Higgins] probably do need someone to protect them not only from the outside world but from themselves. ibid. Steve Davis
1981: This was me and Steve against the world. ibid. Barry Hearn
A lucrative exhibition tour of the country was arranged. Where Alex would show off the world championship trophy. But it quickly descended into chaos. ibid. commentary
By the summer of 1983 cracks were beginning to appear in his relationship with wife Lynne. ibid.
Alex was having mental health problems. He took an overdose when he was on holiday in Minorca. When he came home he was checked into a mental health facility. ibid. Clive
It’s just a matter of discipline all the way round. ibid. Alex with family TV interview
Barry began to expand his Matchroom management company. ibid.
They reckon the figure was around 18.5 million that watched it. ibid.
There was one man many considered his [Higgins’] natural successor: Jimmy White … ‘I just wanna win the world championships and enjoy life. Gods of Snooker III
‘We was partying all the time … I had a blast. I had loads of drug dealers all over the place. I knew all of them. Cocaine has come into my life.’ ibid. Jimmy
Stephen Hendry went on to dominate the ’90s winning a record seven world championships. ibid.
‘Make no mistake, Alex Higgins made snooker what it is today.’ ibid. Jimmy White
I was born on a snooker table. Big Fat Gypsy Gangster: Bulla The Movie 2011 starring Ricky Grover & Omid Djalili & Tulisa Contostavlos & Steven Berkoff & Peter Capaldi & Rufus Hound & Rochelle Wiseman & Laila Morse et al, director Ricky Grover