Is the 'Hurricane' right to return?

Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins is recognised as being one of snooker's all time greats, a natural genius who won the World Championship twice.

But away from the table Higgins lead a turbulent lifestyle, and has suffered health and personal problems, including throat cancer and a battle with the bottle.

But after a five-year break from the game, Alex has entered the B&H Championship, which takes place later this month.

Send us your views - and best wishes - for Alex's return to snooker.

Why doesn't snooker have a senior tour for the over 40s? If players were good enough they could play with the kids, but I would like to see some rematches, e.g. between 'Hurricane Higgins' and Stephens.
Kerry, London, England

Go for it Alex at least you might put some life into a sport that is dead boring.
Andrew, Singapore

I must say I'm very shocked; does he still have a competitive game? It would be a shame to watch him embarrass him self. It's better to try and fail than to sit in the pub moaning about what could have been. I really hope does well and shocks the nation once more, it would be a great story for snooker, but I really can't see it happening.
Jody Sherry, UK

Alex Higgins was probably the main reason I watched snooker on TV. Alex and Jimmy White (and occasionally Kirk Stevens) played the game with such skill and at such speed it was 'edge of the seat' stuff to watch.

Once the 'automaton' re-appeared (Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry) I just couldn't be bothered. Not that they weren't superb snooker players, for me it wasn't exciting enough to watch any more.

Alex, like other exceptional sporting talent (such as Best) destroyed himself. This 'token' participation is merely to create column inches as free publicity for his book. I feel for the guy with his collective physical and mental problems, but I'm happy with the memories of decades past.
Richard Philips, UK

Higgins was only ever an average player in a small field, once the greatest player ever to pick up a cue - Steve Davis - came along, he was finished.

It was only the disgracefully poor sportsmanship and appalling behaviour that made headlines and kept him around for far longer than his mediocre talent deserved.
Barry Smith, UK

Alex Higgins return to the sport is a welcome one. Snooker is about entertainers and there is no bigger entertainer than 'Hurricane' Higgins.
Tone, UK

I don't know and I don't think anyone else knows how he's going to play, though he is probably past his best. I would like to see him regain some of the respect he has lost in recent years, and wish him the best of luck for the future.
John, Ireland

Clive Everton should keep his spiteful remarks to himself (there is no mistaking the tone of his unhelpful remarks).
D J Carpenter, UK

He can do what he likes, but don't compare his return to that of George Foreman who was not only fit but also retained most of his power and ring-smarts and to regain the world title. Compare that to the very sad state of Alex Higgins.

If he really wants to come back, who's to say no? He'll get nowhere and, unfortunately, will provide a sorry spectacle for the watching public and media. That's his choice but I wonder about his capacity to make such a choice.
Randy, UK

It will be good to see Alex back at the table - but getting involved in the B&H might well prove to be disastrously over-ambitious. It's a bit like Stirling Moss suddenly deciding to compete in a modern F1 Grand Prix: interesting but grotesquely implausible. Good luck to Alex anyway - no doubt there'll be others who, like myself, will follow his progress with grim fascination.
Chris B, England

Higgins is my all-time sporting hero, a flawed genius that brought true inspiration and thrills to his fans. All this nonsense about him being out of place in what is now a professional sport is nonsense. True sport is never a professional business. The professional businesses that masquerade as sport are the problem. It would be great to see the people's champion back bringing a bit of genuine passion back to the snooker scene.
Rob, United Kingdom

Of course Alex Higgins can make try to make a comeback. His chequered personal life is nothing to do with his professional career. He should just play by the rules of his sport, and good luck to him. But I seriously doubt whether the Hurricane can even muster a breeze nowadays.
Mehbs, England

He's been an embarrassment to himself for years, and will be thrashed out of sight by today's younger players.
Dougal McKinnon, UK

Higgins was a magical talent that turned the game on its head, but his abuse of himself, officials and the many friends and associates who have tried to help him over the years have taken their toll. I wish him luck and I hope that the demons can be controlled, but I fear the worst.
Richard, UK

No - let's just remember him at his best.
John Griffiths, Scotland

Being possibly one of the greatest players to pick up a cue, the return of the hurricane could indeed be a great influence to the modern game with the incorporation of his unique style. On the other hand, I fear that his social life, both past and present, might overshadow his sheer brilliance at the table.
Stephen Meyrick, Wales

There is no doubt that Alex was once the greatest player of his time, but to return to the arena would be like George Forman returning to the ring. He is in danger of making a laughing stock of himself. Retire Alex - Gracefully and with some dignity.
Nick Gennard, UK

If Alex feels he is able then he should be welcomed with open arms. Let's just hope the press leave him alone and don't try to crucify him. I watched him for years and everyone loves to see him play. Good Luck Alex, we'll be rooting for you.
Norah Coyne, London, England

Some have whinged at Higgins' behaviour away from the Table, but as far as I'm concerned they should mind their own business. It will be a delight to watch Alex in a major tournament again - assuming he gets through the preliminaries.

I for one will make a date to watch him play. Perhaps Alex did more for the game of Snooker than any other player. He made it popular and entertaining and secured its place in major TV sport coverage.
Cliff, England

Good luck to Alex - what he is doing takes real guts. Whether he wins or looses he will always remain one of the greatest talents the sport has ever known.
John B, UK

I would love to see Alex Higgins back in world snooker and I wish him the very best of luck in the B&H Championship. See you at Wembley Alex!
Marc Bazeley, UK

Why shouldn't Alex return? He was a great player and never boring - unlike some other players in the game today.
Frank Foley, Wales

Absolutely. During my youth he was the most exciting player in the world, and I would welcome his return.
Matt Gardner, USA (Ex Patriot)

He was a fantastic player in his time and it was a pleasure to watch him. However, he can no longer cope with the technical capabilities of even the average snooker players today. I don't think it will do his reputation any good, and he will probably lose every game. But if the man wants to make a come back then good luck to him.
Pablo, England

Snooker has moved on a long way since Alex last took to the Baize. I wish him well but I don't think he'll be able to cut it amongst the new blood, and I'm pretty sure he will pack it in very soon. Let's remember him when he was truly a genius that encouraged thousands to take up the game.
Ryan Mohan, England

Alex is the most gifted player ever to pick up a cue. It will be an honour to see him playing again, regardless of the result.
Tim Birch, England

Personally, Alex Higgins gave me endless hours of excitement in front of the TV as he executed his magic on the table. He quite simply was the best cueist the game has ever seen. I, like many of his fans, have been disappointed with his antics over the past number of years, but the person he hurt the most has been himself. He gave snooker everything it ever was or is, and for that reason alone snooker should afford him a table whenever he wants - as long as he abides by the rules.
Ian, USA (Northern Ireland ex-pat)

Higgins was a legend and my hero in the world of snooker. He made the game popular, and the sport owes him at least the opportunity to play. He has surprised the whole of his career, so come on Alex, one final show. Any tickets available?
Alf Genco, UK

Nobody disputes that Alex was one of the greatest snooker players and entertainers that the game has seen, but this man now needs help to kick the drinking and smoking and begin a new career. An attempted comeback would be an embarrassing failure, and taint the best memories.
Chris E, UK

Alex Higgins was an exceptional talent when he played at his peak during the 70s and 80s. His behaviour towards the end of his career, including one or two notable incidents both on and off the table, have overshadowed what went before. His return to the table is not a good idea, and is unlikely to do him or the sport any favours.
Andrew, Hull, England

With the exception of Ronnie O'Sullivan and the declining Jimmy White, snooker today is devoid of what made its popularity so great - characters. Alex Higgins is one of the people that made the game so great, so of course he should be allowed a comeback.

His genius at the baize was compelling and the tears shed at the 1982 final were one of sport's enduring images. Today's field of players is a charisma desert compared to that era, when every player had character, whether the flamboyance of Higgins or the friendly-uncle jocularity of Ray Reardon.

Beyond "Rocket Ronnie" these days it's hard to find that kind of draw to the game. Sure, today's players may be technically superior, but the golden era boys offered so much more.
Daren Mootoo, England

Alex is free to make a comeback as long as he behaves himself and obeys all the rules. But this is sport - and not show business - and I think he will find it hard to make a flea's bite worth of impact on the game he was, once, World Champion of.
Peter Hayes, England

Alex was a unique talent who put snooker on the map as a spectator sport. I am sure that he still has thousands of fans wishing him well in whatever decision he takes.

He is entitled to take his comeback chance whether it results in glory or failure. It is up to him and should not detract from his past achievements. There have been many great players especially in the last 20 years but there is only one 'Hurricane'. He is and shall remain "the people's champion" forever.
Kevin Condron, Scotland

Of course he should come back, and after so many problems away from snooker we should all give him the chance to come back and try and get something from the game. He gave it more than enough himself.
Joe M, UK

The man's a natural entertainer and even the thought of his return is filling up newspaper columns. He should keep on playing until he's 80. I'd pay to watch, as long as he hasn't calmed down with age.
John, England

Alex was quite simply the greatest, and I have to say it brought a tear to my eye when I saw him on the BBC documentary this year before the World Championship, looking gaunt and a shadow of his former self.

The man put snooker on the map, at a time when the game was a sign of misspent youth, and if it was not for him, we would not be seeing the likes of Jimmy White or the Rocket, quick and entertaining players in the Higgins mould.

What is annoying is that the governing body still just doesn't want to recognise him as a great - whenever there is a parade of champions at the Crucible before the final, Alex is never among the former champions present.

The man was a genius, the greatest talent ever to grace the game, and what a lot of people fail to realise is that he won the world title twice, in spite of his well known off the table problems, a title which has never been won by Jimmy, and only once by Ronnie. C'MON ALEX!
Rod Martenstyn, Ealing, UK

Alex Higgins is one of the most entertaining players to have ever graced the world's snooker arenas. People know he has had his problems, and he's certainly paid dearly for a lot of his mistakes, so who with any kind of heart could wish him anything but the best.

He is a childhood hero of mine and I wish I had one iota of his talent. Go on Hurricane, show them you still have what it takes.
Mike Goudge, U.S.A

I don't see any point in Alex Higgins trying to compete against committed snooker players at the age of fifty three. Obviously it's only because he has no money and knows no other way of making it, but he's hardly going to beat anyone now after being out of competition for this long.
Richard, England

Alex, like George Best, has squandered an exceptional talent, but, unlike Best, did actually reach the very top, TWICE. Why then should he be reviled and George Best lauded?

Surely the snooker public, (and its now prosperous authorities) owe him this final chance. After all, he is asking no favours, going in with all the rest to a 'second division' competition in an attempt to resurrect his career. Dare I say: give the man a break!
Denis Stewart, Northern Ireland

He made snooker what it is today and they need him now more than ever.
Shaun Stoker, UK

Yes, of course Alex should return! I've been watching snooker for 30 years and he is still the best talent I've ever seen, no doubts...
Rob, UK

I say if the man loves the game that much, and believes in his own heart that he can make a comeback, then let him make a comeback. He might not be the world's number one, but I bet there is still going to be players that he will knock off.
Wayne, Canada

Alex's past history of problems is well-documented, but what the members of the present snooker era should recognise is that they have a lot to thank 'the Hurricane' for. His entertaining attacking play brought the sport to the masses, paving the way for the huge cheques being paid out these days as prize money.

Alex is - and always has been - at his happiest when playing snooker, whether it was in his heyday at the crucible or in snooker clubs in his native Belfast. I feel that the least the game of snooker owes him is the chance to give it one more go. Snooker is the man's life - good luck Alex!!
Jonny Black, Belgium

Alex should definitely make a comeback. I grew up watching him play around the smokey snooker halls of east Belfast. He was my hero and I always wanted to be like him. What a man.
Niall, UK

Alex should be remembered as a great player... by returning now I fear he will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. I can only assume he has money problems as I doubt given his nature that he wishes to return for the love of the game!
Adam, England

In his day Alex was a brilliant player. His style of snooker was so exciting with all of his peers playing the slow game.

But snooker has moved on, and I would rather remember Alex as he was, rather than see him humbled by today's' new bread of hungry professional.

I hope that he does well, as the money will come in very handy.
David Matthews, England

If he is good enough, then there is no reason why he shouldn't return. The current crop are more out of the Steve Davis/Stephen Hendry mould than Alex Higgins/Jimmy White. The game needs characters.
Keith L, UK

Higgins at his best was blessed with amazing talent and during the 80's was one of the major personalities that helped to popularise snooker. No-one wants to see a once great sportsman in any field make an embarrassing comeback when their powers are clearly on the wane.
Chris Elmes, UK