18 January 2011 Last updated at 06:20 ET

Hurricane Alex Higgins' scrawled notes up for auction

A selection of notes scrawled on betting slips by the late snooker world champion Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins are expected to raise £1,000 at auction.

One of the notes reads: "Was always honest and tried my best".

Another says: "(I was) technically the very best, better than any chess grand master, and when I decided to attack I was also lethal."

Snooker star Higgins, who was from south Belfast, died on 24 July at the age of 61.

The scrawled notes were penned by the former champion the year before his death last July, a spokesman for Hansons Auctioneers said.

The notes were given to journalist David O'Dornan who spent two days with Alex Higgins in 2008.

"It's a bizarre range of notes which provide a fascinating insight into the mind of the troubled genius that was Alex Higgins," Mr O'Dornan said.

"Most of them are on betting dockets, there is one on the racing page of a newspaper and another is on the back of a bar receipt.

"They really tell a story and for the past couple of years I had preserved them safely in an envelope tucked away in a drawer - they deserve to find a better home with a fan or a collector who'll appreciate them more."

One note reads: "(I was) technically the very best, better than any chess grand master, and when I decided to attack I was also lethal, plus I invented all the delicate screw and stun shots playing on or around the black and pink."

Known for his fiery temperament and audacious skill with a cue, Mr Higgins was credited with revolutionising the popularity of the sport.

He died in July last year, having suffered from throat cancer for almost 10 years.

Charles Hanson, manager of Hansons Auctioneers in Derby said the notes were "almost like an epitaph".

They are to go under the hammer on Thursday.

In November, a letter of apology written by Mr Higgins after he punched a press officer was sold at auction for £2,400.