Snooker legend 'storms' on the Waterfront horizon

Two-time world snooker champion, Alex 'The Hurricane' Higgins and six-time runner up, Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White are set to go head to head in an exhibition match at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

The match, which is the first time these titans of snooker will have played together outside the major tournaments in 20 years, will take place on Monday 8th March.

Belfast-born Alex took the game by storm in the 1972 World Championships by beating John Spencer in the final to become World Champion at his first attempt. He reached the final once again in 1976 where he lost to Ray Reardon, and again in 1980 which ended in a narrow 16-18 defeat by Cliff Thorburn. He become World Champion for the second time in 1982 after a memorable semi-final victory over Jimmy White which was arguably the best match ever seen at the Crucible.

Jimmy White is a six times Embassy World Championship runner-up.

The closest he has come to winning the game's biggest prize was in 1994 when he lost 18-17 to Stephen Hendry in the final. It seemed inevitable that White would emerge as Champion until he failed to pot a black in the final frame.

The Whirlwind remains one of the games biggest crowd pullers and became only the second player ever to achieve a televised maximum break in the 1992 World Championships. Jimmy has won twenty two major professional titles during his career, including the 1984 Masters and the 1992 UK Championship.

Tickets for the match are available from the Waterfront Hall Box Office on 028 9033 4455.

(MB)