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| Hunter loses battle with cancer | Hunter loses battle with cancer |
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| Paul Hunter has died at the age of 27 after a battle with cancer. | Paul Hunter has died at the age of 27 after a battle with cancer. |
| The Leeds player was taken into the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield last Friday and died on Monday evening. | The Leeds player was taken into the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield last Friday and died on Monday evening. |
| The three-time Masters champion was diagnosed with dozens of neuro endocrine tumours on the lining of his stomach in March 2005. | The three-time Masters champion was diagnosed with dozens of neuro endocrine tumours on the lining of his stomach in March 2005. |
| Hunter would have been 28 on Saturday. He leaves a wife, Lindsey, and a daughter, Evie Rose, who was born on Boxing Day of last year. | |
| Hunter turned professional at the age of 16 in 1995 and won his first major title, the 1998 Welsh Open, at the age of 19. | |
| He also won the Welsh title in 2002 and picked up the British Open trophy the same year. | He also won the Welsh title in 2002 and picked up the British Open trophy the same year. |
| But he will be best remembered for his exploits at Wembley. | But he will be best remembered for his exploits at Wembley. |
| Hunter recovered from 7-3 down to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 in the 2001 final and fought back from 5-0 down to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final a year later. | Hunter recovered from 7-3 down to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 in the 2001 final and fought back from 5-0 down to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final a year later. |
| He completed a hat-trick of Masters victories in 2004 when he came from 7-2 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9. | He completed a hat-trick of Masters victories in 2004 when he came from 7-2 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9. |
| Hunter's best World Championship performance was reaching the semi-finals in 2003, where he led Ken Doherty 15-9 before the Irishman stormed back to win 17-16. | Hunter's best World Championship performance was reaching the semi-finals in 2003, where he led Ken Doherty 15-9 before the Irishman stormed back to win 17-16. |
| Despite chemotherapy treatment, Hunter continued to compete professionally but won only one match last season and fell from fifth to 34th in the rankings. |