Former snooker world champion Alex Higgins dies

Former world snooker champion Alex "Hurricane" Higgins has died at the age of 61, the BBC reported on Saturday.

Higgins, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, had been suffering from throat cancer.

He earned his nickname from his flamboyant playing style, walking swiftly around the table while potting balls at a rapid rate.

A heavy smoker who also had drink problems, Higgins was divorced twice and was once fined and banned from five tournaments after headbutting a championship referee.