Higgins shelves comeback plans
Thursday, 21 November 2002 12:55Alex Higgins' long awaited comeback has been shelved for a second time after the ailing Ulsterman withdrew his entry to compete in the Embassy World Championship. Higgins, twice a winner of snooker's greatest prize, was scheduled to play in the qualifying rounds of the 2002-2003 event at Manhattans snooker club in Harrogate on Saturday. But the 53-year-old Belfast born star, who paid £200 to enter the Embassy event, has confirmed to snooker's governing body he will not now be competing.
Higgins, who has not played a competitive match for nearly six years, should have faced Salford's Frank Fitzgerald or fellow Irishman Billy Kelly. The 'Hurricane' told a World Snooker official he was pulling out because of ongoing dental treatment.
His decision means there will definitely be no emotional return to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield next spring - although he would have had to win 12 qualifying matches to get there. Higgins last played at the Crucible eight years ago and has not competed in the world championship since losing 5-1 to Darren Limburg in the 1996-97 qualifiers.
He stunned the snooker world earlier this season when he decided to enter the Benson and Hedges Championship in Mansfield. But less than a week before he was due to face Lee Spick at the Towers snooker club Higgins announced he would not be taking part because of urgent dental work. Such was the interest in his comeback, tickets costing £3 had been selling on the black market for up to £100.
It remains to be seen whether he will ever contest a professional tournament again.
Filed by Shane Murray
