Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins: A life in pictures

1967: Higgins after winning the Northern Ireland championships, just before his 18th birthday, pictured with his mother, Elizabeth Higgins (r) Photograph: Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy

1973: Higgins shows off his new look, created by Tom Gilbey Photograph: PA

Right on cue: Higgins in familiar pose during practice Photograph: David Reed/Corbis

1975: Studying the table at the Benson & Hedges Masters Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

1980: With wife Lynn on their wedding day, at the United Reformed Church in Wilmslow Photograph: PA

1982: On top of the world – With wife and baby, holding the World Snooker Championship trophy Photograph: David Muscroft/Rex Features

1983: Between shots during the Embassy World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield Photograph: Adrian Murrell/Getty Images

1983: With Lynn after winning the Coral UK snooker final at the Guildhall in Preston
Bob Thomas/Getty Images

1984: Higgins lines up a shot at the Benson & Hedges Masters at Wembley Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

1994: Watching play at the Embassy World Snooker Championships Photograph: Robert Hallam/Rex Features

1995: Red alert – lining up a shot at an exhibition match Photograph: SNS Group/Alamy

2006: A shockingly emaciated Higgins at a funeral in Leeds Photograph: Rex Features