Snooker: Higgins hurt in 'unprovoked assault'

Snooker

Higgins hurt in 'unprovoked assault'

Alex Higgins claimed he had been the victim of an unprovoked assault with an iron bar when found by police at 4am yesterday morning slumped on the ground outside a night-club in Plymouth, writes Clive Everton. The twice world champion sustained contusions to the side of his head, a sprained right wrist and a sprained right ankle but was discharged from hospital after only a few hours. "We are making enquiries and treating the incident as an alleged assault," said a police spokeswoman. On Thursday, Higgins, who has slid to 155th in the world rankings, was beaten 5-1 by Neil Mosley, the world No 182 in the first round of the first of four qualifying school events at Plymouth Pavilions which will each supply eight players for next season's world ranking circuit. Higgins was not in the best of moods and was involved in a considerable amount of backstage bickering, some of which impinged on a public area. Later, police escorted Higgins from the premises.