Paul Hunter was a three-time Masters champion who was dubbed the Beckham of the Baize and admired by Ronnie O’Sullivan earlier than his tragic loss of life aged 27.
Paul Hunter was referred to as the Beckham of the Baize on the peak of his fame (Picture: Getty)
Paul Hunter, a three-time Masters champion inside 4 years, was hailed as snooker’s reply to David Beckham and held in excessive esteem by the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan. Often called the ‘Beckham of the Baize’ throughout his enjoying days, Hunter left an indelible mark on the game earlier than his premature loss of life in 2006.
A decade later, the Masters trophy was fittingly renamed the Paul Hunter Trophy in honour of his legacy. The Leeds-born participant was a formidable pressure on the peak of his profession, clinching the Masters titles in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Every time, he staged a exceptional comeback to safe the title within the deciding body.
In 2005, regardless of being identified with quite a few neuroendocrine tumours lining his abdomen, Hunter continued to play. Sadly, he succumbed to most cancers a yr later at simply 27, abandoning a younger household.
Hunter, famed for his flamboyant fashion and beauty, was a family identify within the early 2000s. O’Sullivan, regardless of shedding to him within the Masters ultimate two years previous to Hunter’s loss of life, held him in excessive regard.
In an interview with The Mirror forward of final yr’s Masters, O’Sullivan paid a heartfelt tribute to Hunter: “Paul was an unbelievable expertise, he undoubtedly had that star energy and transcended the sport.
“I had some good occasions and a few good recollections with Paul. He won’t ever be forgotten. All of the gamers beloved him. He’ll at all times be within the hearts of the snooker gamers and all people who knew him.”
Paul Hunter gained the Masters in 2001, 2002 and 2004 along with three rating titles (Picture: Getty)
Hunter launched into his skilled profession on the tender age of 16 in 1995, clinching his first main title, the Welsh Open, simply three years later. He repeated this feat in 2002, additionally lifting the British Open trophy that yr.
Though he by no means secured the World Championship, he got here tantalisingly shut in 2003, when he let a considerable lead over Ken Doherty slip away within the semi-finals.
Following Hunter’s passing, Doherty paid tribute to him as one in all snooker’s most vibrant personalities, telling the BBC: “We have misplaced a terrific character, champion and a terrific buddy. It is a surprising loss. He had the whole lot, the world at his ft, and it is such a disgrace.
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“He was one in all our characters and a implausible participant. Phrases cannot clarify what his household have to be going by way of and they’re all in our minds and our prayers.
“Anybody who wins the Masters back-to-back is a superb participant. Paul Hunter was a terrific participant and I am positive that he would have been a future world champion, indubitably.”
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