Talk:Alex Higgins

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There are some errors in the article: 1) The score for the 1982 world championship was 18-15, and not 18-16 as listed in the article. 2) In 1976 world championship final, Higgins not conceed early before Reardon had "reached the winning post". Reardon won the frame he needed to win the match 27-16. However, Higgins did conceed several frames early when he could still have techniclaly won them. 3)While it is correct that Higgins was ranked number 2 on two occassions (since the ranking list was created in 1976) it is worth noting that for the 1982 / 1983 list, Higgins had two ranking points deducted for misconduct. Otherwise he would have been ranked number one, based on tournament performance.

The article does not list many of Higgins' tournament victories. I would suggest adding:

  • 1972 Irish Professional Champion (beat Rea 28-12)
  • 1973 Men of the Midlands (beat Reardon 5-3)
  • 1975 Canadian Open (beat Pulam 15-7)
  • 1977 Canadian Open (beat Spencer 17-14)
  • 1978 Benson and Hedges Masters (beat Thorburn 7-5)
  • 1978 Irish Professional Champion (beat Dennis Taylor 21-7)
  • 1979 Irish Professional Champion (beat Patsy Fagan 21-13)
  • 1979 Tolly Cobbold Classic (beat Reardon 5-4)
  • 1980 British Gold Cup (beat Reardon 5-1)
  • 1980 Padmore / Super Crysalate International (beat Mans 4-2)
  • 1980 Tolly Cobbold Classic (beat Dennis Taylor 5-4)
  • 1980 Pontins Professional Championship (beat Dennis Taylor 9-7)
  • 1981 Benson and Hedges Masters (beat Griffiths 9-5)
  • 1983 Irish Professional Championship (beat Dennis Taylor 16-11)
  • 1984 World Doubles Championship (with Jimmy White; beat Thorburn and Thorne 10-2)
  • 1985, 1986, 1987 World Team Championship (playing for Ireland)
  • 1989 Irish Professional Championship (beat Jack McLaughlin 9-7)

Tim Sandle

Hi Tim,
You are correct about the 1982 final: it was def. 18-15 and updated accordingly. As to the 1976 final, I recall seeing Higgins shaking hands with Reardon and hearing the commentator (Ted Lowe or Jack Karnehm) say in total surprise that he had conceded the frame in progress (and the match) early although not entitled to do so [those words ring fairly clear]. It's also my understanding that the final session of that match (in Manchester) was not played. Can you check your sources and post a reply?
Unfortunately many of Alex's victories were in events that would be regarded a mickey-mouse today. True, those were all that were available but I think only his two B&H Master's titles stand the test of time and should be added to his article. I've a feeling that he also won one or two other major tournaments and will check this out. Patrick

Contents

[edit] Category

The Northern Irish snooker players category clearly states Higgins' country - Northern Ireland. And it's a sub-category of Category:Northern Irish people. Stu ’Bout ye! 08:37, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Hi, I propose to save space by removing the NI flag. Alex's picture is there already and a flag doesn't need to appear unless a suitable usable photo of the subject can't be provided. Alex is described as from Northern Ireland in the article, which is enough. Patrick.


[edit] Media links OK?

The media links aren't working for me -is it me, or are they dead links? MikesPlant 00:05, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

Mike, media links work ok for me (they open in Real Player). Maybe copy the link location and see if it can be cut and pasted into Real Player or Windows Media Player? Tue. 2 May, 15.49 Patrick

[edit] re {{tone}}

I'm tagging this particular paragraph:

His unorthodox brilliance is best encapsulated in his break of 69 against White in the penultimate frame of their World Professional Snooker Championship semi-final in 1982. Experts and players continue to cite it as one of the greatest ever breaks under pressure. Higgins was 0-59 down in that frame and probably one ball away from going out, but managed to compile a clearance that almost defied belief. He was scarcely in position until he came to the colours. In particular, one pot will live long in the memory: a three-quarter-ball blue into the green pocket with the cue-ball screwed off the side cushion towards the top cushion. Dennis Taylor considers that the shot could be played 100 times without coming close to the position Higgins reached with cue-ball (he actually went much too far for good position on his next red).

Its language isn't formal enough (actually, it's not formal at all), it is POV, and at the very least it should be presented as a third-party's opinion, and should be sourced.

  1. Who decided that Higgins' "unorthodox brilliance is best encapsulated in his break of 69 against White in the penultimate frame of their World Professional Snooker Championship semi-final in 1982"?
  2. Who exactly are those "experts and players" who "continue to cite it as one of the greatest ever breaks under pressure"?
  3. Who thinks that the clearance that he managed "almost defied belief"?
  4. Who thinks that the particular pot described "will live long in the memory"? In whose memory?

I think that the problems are obvious, and that {{tone}} should stay. ---Vladimir V. Korablin (talk) 09:52, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

I have reverted your edit and explained why on your talk page bigpad 18:48, 18 December 2006 (UTC)
OK, I won't revert it back, to avoid engaging in an edit war, but you seem to be missing the point. It's not about whose knowledge of snooker is deeper (I'm pretty sure yours is), it's about how the articles must be written. My comments are not pedantic; they are based on official policies and guidelines of the English Wikipedia. See WP:V and WP:RS.---Vladimir V. Korablin (talk) 06:47, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pot on Blue Ball on 69 break

I edited the text to correct the side spin put on the ball. It was actually a load of left-hand side that Higgins used to zip the cue-ball off the cushion. When screwing back with reverse side, it's necessary to strike the cue-ball on the opposite side to the direction you want it to travel after hitting the cushion. Watch the video clip on that frame and have a look. bigpad 17:48, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

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