Playing with Numbers

By Elliott West

Introduction

Alex Higgins was definitely one of the best players of his generation and I would personally class him as a genius, a title reserved for a select few in snooker. Like an artist, he created a break from a blank canvas and was never afraid to veer away from traditional play. He took on the shots that few would dare to play and often refused safety play for that of the attacking variety. Known for his drama on and off the table, this lad from Belfast, was a Triple Crown winner, winning the World Championship in 1972 and 1982 and a string of numerous titles. He would play on a main stage or in a working men’s club, simply because he loved and breathed snooker.

A Night to Remember

In the 1970s, maximum breaks were as rare as hen’s teeth but in 1976 Alex Higgins came close when he produced a 146 break. Playing against Willie Thorne at the Leicester YMCA in a £100 challenge, Higgins sunk sixteen reds and sixteen colours, to set a new world record, that was described as “nothing short of brilliant”. Having already knocked in a break of 118, in the third frame, this Irish Hurricane put the icing on the cake by manufacturing his record-breaking achievement in the fifth frame.

This display of magic all started when Willie Thorne committed a foul stroke on the blue at the start of the frame, giving Higgins the opportunity of a free ball. Alex elected the brown, then the green followed by the next fifteen reds and fifteen colours, clearing the colours for a total clearance of 146. An elated Alex later said after the match:

“I hadn’t realised that I could beat 147. I had an opportunity to play for the black with the next to last red, but opted for the blue. It’s a feat I could have spent the rest of my life trying to repeat”.

Alex Higgins

Higgins was a dominant force on this occasion and blew away Thorne on his first, professional debut. Willie experienced a 10-0 drubbing at the hands of Alex, taking the first three frames in three quarters of an hour and in the first ten frames, he had seven breaks of 70 and over, including two centuries. Thorne did however manage to save grace by winning two frames in a specially arranged, best of nine challenge after the match but still was defeated 5-2 by the Hurricane. Willie later commented jokingly:

“What time did the match start? Seriously though, Alex was just great. I did have a touch of flu, but you could say I caught a cold!”

Willie Thorne

Jim Kerr who ran the club later said of the two day event:

“Higgins’ play on the first night had to be seen to be believed – he never missed”

“And just to put the record straight, a lot of things have been said about Higgins’ behaviour recently, all I can say is that his conduct over the two nights was exemplary”

Jim Kerr

Summary

Alex Higgins was a snooker player who even if you like him as a person, you couldn’t help admiring him. He was like a snooker Marmite that you either loved or loathed but I haven’t heard of many people who actually hated him that much. A genius who could destroy his opponent on the baize and produce safety play that tied the other player in knots. A player who literally knock balls off the lampshade and more than often pot continuous balls that produced electric breaks, mesmerising to view. A craftsman that plied his trade with his and one that is sadly missed.