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Dean Houston McKelvey will conduct Monday's funeral service for the 61-year-old sporting legend, before he is later laid to rest at Roselawn Cemetery.

"There's going to be a whole list of celebrities there - all Alex's friends and he had a lot of them," long-time close friend Will Robinson told UTV.

Funeral arrangements had been delayed by Higgins' family at the request of Jimmy White, who was in Thailand when he heard of his friend's death. He and a host of other snooker stars are now expected to attend the service.

According to Mr Robinson, the family are still coming to terms with Higgins' death.

"They are totally devastated," he said.

"It's been a very hard time for everyone, but they are coping."

Higgins - who had battled throat cancer for over ten years - was found dead at his flat on the Donegall Road in the south of the city, not far from where he grew up.

It is not known how long his body had been there.

His solitary death in sheltered accommodation was a far cry from the lifestyle the once flamboyant, often controversial, star had enjoyed at the height of his fame.

Rising from humble beginnings, Higgins became a firm favourite of the professional circuits for his "watchability" - earning himself the nickname 'Hurricane' with his fast and furious style of play and twice becoming world champion.

"To many people in the 1980s, he was the only player they came to watch," said former world champion and rival Steve Davis.

According to friend and biographer Sean Boru: "Snooker didn't make Alex Higgins - Alex Higgins made snooker."

But, along with the usual celebrity trappings, came a reputation as something of a hell-raiser and long-standing problems with alcohol and cigarettes.

"To people in the game, he was a constant source of argument - he was a rebel," Davis added.

Iconic

Among the most iconic and moving images in snooker history are those of Higgins' tearful celebrations - one arm around then wife Lynn, the other cradling baby daughter Lauren - when he reclaimed the world title at the Crucible, ten years after he first won it.

But later controversies - including head-butting an official and threatening to have Dennis Taylor shot - saw him banned from the sport for a year.

His descent from stardom eventually saw him suffer the indignity of being pitched against unknowns in backstreet halls, instead of playing in tournament finals by right.

Higgins never lost his passion for the game though and his legacy endured to inspire a new generation of snooker players, with his influence seen in the style of future fan favourites including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Jimmy White and John Higgins.

While his fiery temperament may have led to heated encounters, snooker promoter Barry Hearn said Higgins would be remembered as the "original people's champion" and deeply missed.

Money raised to help fund Higgins' medical treatment will now be used to give him a send-off, with the funeral expected to be the largest Belfast has seen since that of footballing legend George Best.

Many people from across the city and beyond have already visited City Hall to sign a book of condolence opened there.

"I think an awful lot of people will turn out to pay their respects and I would expect many to be very emotional," said Belfast councillor Bob Stoker, who grew up with Higgins.

"I think the people of Belfast, those who know him will have different memories and different thoughts of him.

"I think it's important that people do come out to show their sympathy with the family at the passing of such a great star."

© UTV News