Snooker: Former world champion Alex Higgins was beaten 5-2 by Joe Delaney in the first round of the Irish Professional Championship in Dublin today.
The 57-year-old, who won the world title in 1972 and 1982, was given a wildcard for his home tournament for the second year running.
But Belfast-born Higgins was no match for world number 64 Delaney, who disappointed a large crowd at the Spawell Club, Templeogue by sending the 'Hurricane' crashing out.
Higgins, whose professional career included numerous confrontations with the snooker authorities, last competed on the ranking event circuit in 1997 and has since successfully battled throat cancer.
After a long spell away from the game, Higgins is back playing exhibitions and is reportedly considering standing for Parliament as a candidate for the Make Politics History party.
Last year, he was beaten 5-2 by Garry Hardiman in the first round of the Irish event.
Mark Allen, widely regarded as the finest Northern Irish prospect since the days of Higgins and Dennis Taylor, reached the second round with a 5-1 defeat of Hardiman.
