Paul Hunter 1978 to 2006

 

Hunter passed away on October 9 2006, aged 27. He leaves his wife Lindsey and young daughter Evie Rose.

Paul Hunter both young and extremely talented, his passing will leave a huge vacuum in the world of snooker. I will never forget the 2004 Master's Final game between Paul Hunter and Ronnie O'sullivan, that captured my heart. There are very few public personna's who capture the hearts of the distant observer, for me, Paul Hunter was such a man. Thay say, 'Snooker is a game for gentlemen' ; Paul Hunter was truly the quintessential gentleman.  






Paul Hunter factfile:

 

1978: Born October 14.

1995: Turned professional at the age of 16.

1998: Won the Welsh Open.

2001: Recovered from 7-3 down to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 and win the Wembley Masters title.

2002: Hunter again came from behind to retain his Wembley Masters title, this time beating Mark Williams 10-9 after being 5-0 down.

Won the Welsh Open title and British Open title in Telford later that year.

2003: Reached the semi-finals of the World Championships, leading Ken Doherty 15-9 before slipping to a 17-16 defeat.

2004: Claimed his third Wembley Masters title by beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in a last-frame decider after trailing 7-2.

2005: April 6 - It was announced that Hunter had been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours, a rare form of cancer. 

April 14 - In his first competitive appearance since his diagnosis, he came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Jimmy White in a Premier League fixture in Doncaster.

April 15: Confirmed he would compete in the 2005 World Championship. Hunter lost in the first round to Michael Holt.

October: Beaten in the last 16 of the German Open.

December: Came from behind to beat Jamie Burnett 9-8 and reach the third round of the UK Championship in York.

2006: April: Played through the pain as he was beaten 10-5 by Australian Neil Robertson in the first round of the World Championship.

July - Was given the go-ahead to take a year out from the game in order to continue his fight against cancer, after an extraordinary general meeting of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association agreed to freeze his ranking.

October 9: Died aged 27 after losing his battle with cancer.