American Reacts to Alex Higgins "The Impossible Break"

[@danielgardecki1046]

Jimmy White - The unluckiest player in the world. He got to six World Snooker Championship finals, but never won.

[@GodlessScummer]

I think everyone in the country was rooting for him to win it at least once. Unfortunately it wasn't to be.

[@scottishandproud3752]

Good to see an American appreciating snooker. Snooker players attempt to play 9 ball but 9 ball players don’t play snooker for a reason :)

[@trappenweisseguy27]

Steve Mizerak was the only American pool player I’m aware of who took a serious shot at snooker. He even moved to England for a year to do it, but wasn’t much more than mediocre as I understand it.

[@sharonesdale1637]

Alex Higgins is an icon of snooker legends. A man who was so talented, he blew my mind with his style of play. The hurricane, only surpassed by the rocket, that is Ronnie 😄

[@honestlord]

nice to see how much respect ronnie has for alex ,,,

[@buddyhek]

Jay you have the best understanding of snooker than any other American who comments on it. Good on you mate.

[@jamesduggan3873]

I'm a brit btw, of 50 years on this planet. Alex Higgins was a flawed genius at Snooker. The best there ever was, on his day. He was a crowd pleaser and ‘peoples champion’. Despite his cavalier style of play, he still managed to pick up two world titles, 10 years apart. That’s quite a feat given his lifestyle! His highly attacking and entertaining manner of playing endeared him to many fans but it also lost him many games from winnable positions. He lost to Steve Davis a number of times because of this. To see the master at work though, you’ve only got to view the video we've just witnessed, which is the penultimate frame in his 1982 encounter in the World semi-finals against a young Jimmy White. White only needed a frame to go through to the final and was on a score of 59-0 when he wobbled a red. Step up Alex; the maestro cleared the table with a break of 69 that in itself may not sound like a massive achievement, but he was out of position on almost every ball and took on some sensational shots (that no player of today would even try) and he did all this using the old, heavier (and less spin reactive) balls in comparison to the modern snooker balls that are made of a much lighter and responsive composite. And tables run faster these days due to much finer cloths, so it took emmense cue power to create these types of spins back then. I have added a link below, so you can easily view the sheer audacity of this enigmatic cueist for yourself. Courtesy of KZbin. Anyway, this break is still to this day considered one of the finest, and craziest, breaks of all time. Especially considering as he was facing definite exit from the World championships if he made an error. That was his main appeal; Higgins would play exhibition shots regularly in proper match-play conditions, it is what perpetrated his legendary status within the game but was also sometimes his undoing. I’m only going to speak of Alex the Snooker player, not the character and his off table ‘activities’ which are generally much less commendable. I remember him for the exciting, unpredictable and entertaining player he was and may god rest his soul. Peace out ✌ And he was also well known for this sort of thing :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqm4l5SXmrGmrac&pp=ygUmQUxFWCBISUdHSU5TIC0gRkxBU0ggU0hPVFMgKFJFLVVQTE9BRCk%3D Here's a little bonus, it's his partying pal, Jimmy White and his antics on the table. He not only mirrored Alex in taking on risky shots, or using tremendous spins, he also wanted to entertain. So let's give him the floor right now ;D Enjoy peeps kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKrTXoebi8aHe9U

[@wherestheexit5572]

The blue tho in the top right bag - thats why he was the hurricane 🤯

[@craigfinch873]

It's lovely and rare to see an American enjoying the sport of snooker. This is a absolute classic to watch involving both my 2 favourite ever players.

[@GodlessScummer]

Alex Higgins is the closest thing Snooker has ever had to a rock star. He certainly lived the rock star lifestyle. The guy he's playing here is Jimmy White who was also Alex's drinking buddy. Jimmy White is the best player to have never won a world championship. Although he was runner up on 6 occasions.

[@sliverwolf1992]

Alex Higgins what can you say about a this man but a total genius with a snooker ball. And this break was done under maximum pressure as if he lose that frame he would have been out of the tournament. Jimmy White the greatest snooker player of all time never to win the world title, he got the final 6 times but losted all 6. Everyone would have loved to see him lift that world title and another genius of snooker. The shots these two could play on a snooker table would make your jaw drop, incredible players both of them. Both people's champions total geniuses of the game. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@leew6091]

The most impressive thing about Alex...he was blind drunk most of the time. He's drinking double vodka's, at least,, every time he goes to his seat.

[@Me-gy7yk]

That blue when he has 13 points is still the best shot I think I've ever seen. To screw it back off the side cushion with that power was unreal. You just didn't see players make shots like that back then, but nowadays they can all play like that. And Alex Higgins is the reason why they can, in my opinion.

[@GrahamMilkdrop]

Yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black... that's the order for finishing off the colours and the points are 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6 and 7 with reds all counting for 1. Don't know how long you've been watching snooker or how well you know the rules etc.... I just thought it might be helpful to include this info for those who don't know.

[@Seagull6819]

Sometimes you just know you’re watching something REALLY special. This is up there with Ayrton Senna Lap 1 1993 European Grand Prix, John McEnroe hammering Jimmy Connors in the 1984 Wimbledon Final, Usain Bolt on more than one occasion and Torvill and Dean skating to Bolero. Many other examples too I’m sure!

[@CMDRRustyDog]

Fascinating game when you know the rules, isn't it Jay? Glad you're getting into it now. Check out Steve Davis vs Dennis Taylor 1985 final (that last frame black ball). I remember that night so vividly.

[@martinbynion1589]

Alex "Hurricane" Higgins! 🙂

[@papalaz4444244]

I am not 100% sure you realised that if Higgins lost this frame he lost the match and was out of the tournament. He won this frame and then he won this match in the last fame. Then he won the World Championship.

[@anthonydinsdale8783]

This match was epic. 1982 world Snooker Championship semifinal between Alex "Hurricane" Higgins and Jimmy "Whirlwind" White. Proven veteran vs young talented challenger and went frame for frame. Higgins won the semi and the final.

[@Charlie.c19]

Brilliant break from the people's champ. You'd love Ronnie's 147 vs Ding - the one with the famous left handed screw shot on the last red.

[@jkpole]

Love your appreciation of our great game and our legends such as ALEX the HURRICANE Higgins

[@jackwoolyback5394]

Re: the coughing. Snooker competitions back then were sponsored by cigarette companies - this may well have been The Embassy (cigarette brand) World Championship - and there was no smoking ban in the arena. It's likely that Alex celebrated the clearance by lighting one up.

[@twatinahatsmith7428]

You seem like you are really getting into it. You seem like a fine young man, who watches and doesn't speak overly, transfixed by the game. Good to see you are going to be doing some darts soon.

[@danielgardecki1046]

I find long shots like 7:40 and 9:35 easier than long shots like 1:04 and 1:24, as I find it easier to get a long pot if the ball I'm going for is closer to the cue ball.

[@waatup]

3:06 "perfect setup too" well that aged like fine milk

[@jasonjones3638]

Nice reaction bro, I watched this when I was 6 years old - he was OUT OF POSITION ALMOST EVERY SHOT - Unreal - Alex was a huge alcoholic and couldn't hold it together, but without a doubt the talent was INSANE

[@jasejj]

My father grew up in Belfast (Sandy Row) in the 1960s and would regularly skip school to go to the snooker clubs in the area. He knew Alex well and claims to have beaten him several times as a teenager. We all had to watch these matches growing up in the '80s as he worshipped the guy. He was never much cop at snooker (my father that is) but was a county player for a long time in darts and had a cabinet full of these rather cheap-looking trophies!

[@trappenweisseguy27]

About the coughing ; Canadian player Cliff Thorburn would often comment about how there would be outbreaks of whooping cough when he would be at the table. His English opponents would not be receiving the same treatment 👀.

[@mannym7849]

Hi Jay, it’s great to see your snooker knowledge and understanding is really growing and growing man! Keep it up. This was right up there this World Championship Semi-Final in 1982 with two of the finest players in the game and Alex and Jimmy were best friends too. But Alex just on another level on that day! I’ve got a few recommendations for you… a) the first Crucible 147 break - Cliff Thorburn in 1983, b) The 1985 Black Ball Final and c) When Snooker Ruled The World (this was a BBC documentary first aired in 2002) it’s available on here too.

[@richardmiller3839]

Love your snooker reactions, mate. Gday from Western Australia😊

[@stephenbrough8132]

I enjoyed that!!!

[@user-qg3qh8uz7l]

Love your commentary.

[@mcfcguvnors]

Higgins was my hero when i was younger , only man i ever stood in a queue for to get a pic & signature on my ticket ( no charge for the pic or autograph - the good old days ) 9:00 is one of the most amazing shots with left hand side youll ever see

[@keefsmiff]

Alex was well known for lining up the White😊

[@Rocky19577]

Ronnie O'Sullivan into quarter final of world championship

[@craigmellor3465]

Loving the Snooker Reactions! If you can.. React to Mark Williams Crazy Snooker Moments. I think it would make a great Snooker Video 👏

[@andywrong3247]

Who actually won the match this game made alex level.jay doing his best whispering ted lowe impression lol.

[@syx3s]

_nice._

[@knowlesy3915]

Jimmy White was a great player also, never quite lived up to his talent, but worh a look too.

[@g-1west455]

Hi mate, do Ronnie's 147 v Mark King

[@jibberjabberman]

You watching Ronnie later today?

[@multiversal2023]

Yeah boi

[@jibberjabberman]

@@multiversal2023 it's a tight game!

[@multiversal2023]

@jibberjabberman I'm at work and I cant sneak a peak lol

[@andywrong3247]

Good in the day but volatile drunk & flawed genius. Jay when you doing delboy it crowd father Ted bottom black adder rising damp still game porridge.

[@timg5011]

Jimmy White lent his name to the best snooker video games of their age. (I could beat Tom fairly easily, and was about 50-50 against Dick. I beat Harry once. Jimmy? Forget it.)

[@joe2tonepringle352]

Termage ? .......

[@twatsack]

Poor old Jimmy, the people's favourite.