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| Hunter loses battle with cancer | Hunter loses battle with cancer |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Snooker star Paul Hunter has died aged 27 after a battle with cancer. | Snooker star Paul Hunter has died aged 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 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. |
| onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6038802'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Highlights: Hunter's three Masters victories onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6036329'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Report: Hunter loses cancer battle Interview: Ken Doherty | |
| Former world champion John Parrott was among the first to pay tribute. | Former world champion John Parrott was among the first to pay tribute. |
| "Paul certainly brought a touch of glamour to the game - they called him 'the Beckham of the baize'," Parrott told BBC Five Live. | "Paul certainly brought a touch of glamour to the game - they called him 'the Beckham of the baize'," Parrott told BBC Five Live. |
| "And his performances at Wembley were fantastic. To win three titles was tremendous. | "And his performances at Wembley were fantastic. To win three titles was tremendous. |
| "He was a happy-go-lucky man, always played with a smile on his face and never had a bad word to say about anyone." | "He was a happy-go-lucky man, always played with a smile on his face and never had a bad word to say about anyone." |
| Stephen Hendry, the seven-times world champion, added: "I'm absolutely devastated by the news. | Stephen Hendry, the seven-times world champion, added: "I'm absolutely devastated by the news. |
| REACTION ON 606 I was shocked when I saw the news - RIP Paul Thom Send your tributes | REACTION ON 606 I was shocked when I saw the news - RIP Paul Thom Send your tributes |
| "He's got a young family and he had a fantastic future in front of him. It's everyone's worst nightmare and puts everything into perspective." | "He's got a young family and he had a fantastic future in front of him. It's everyone's worst nightmare and puts everything into perspective." |
| Willie Thorne, a BBC commentator and former professional, said: "Deep down I think we all thought he was going to beat the disease. | Willie Thorne, a BBC commentator and former professional, said: "Deep down I think we all thought he was going to beat the disease. |
| "He was one of the best-looking snooker players we ever had and had a heart like a lion. | "He was one of the best-looking snooker players we ever had and had a heart like a lion. |
| "He lit up the stage when he played, was a very flamboyant player and there will be a big hole in everybody's hearts for the next year or so." | "He lit up the stage when he played, was a very flamboyant player and there will be a big hole in everybody's hearts for the next year or so." |
| And World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker added: "Paul was a man who had everything going for him - an outstanding talent, good looks, fame, riches, charm and a beautiful wife. | And World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker added: "Paul was a man who had everything going for him - an outstanding talent, good looks, fame, riches, charm and a beautiful wife. |
| "This shows us just how quickly life can change. | "This shows us just how quickly life can change. |
| "It's a bitter blow for snooker, but most importantly for his family, and our thoughts are with them." | "It's a bitter blow for snooker, but most importantly for his family, and our thoughts are with them." |
| The governing body are considering a tribute for Hunter and are planning to make a decision in the "next few weeks". | The governing body are considering a tribute for Hunter and are planning to make a decision in the "next few weeks". |
| Paul Hunter was a great player and I'm sure that he would have been a future world champion Willie Thorne | Paul Hunter was a great player and I'm sure that he would have been a future world champion Willie Thorne |
| 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. | 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 after finding inspiration with wife Lindsey during the midway interval. | Hunter recovered from 7-3 down to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 in the 2001 final after finding inspiration with wife Lindsey during the midway interval. |
| Hunter won eight of 11 frames in the evening session and what he jokingly called his 'plan B' became the stuff of legend. | Hunter won eight of 11 frames in the evening session and what he jokingly called his 'plan B' became the stuff of legend. |
| He also fought back from 5-0 down to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final a year later. | He also fought back from 5-0 down to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final a year later. |
| And he completed a hat-trick of Masters victories in 2004 when he came from 7-2 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9. | And he completed a hat-trick of Masters victories in 2004 when he came from 7-2 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9. |
| A splash of wedding photos in Hello! magazine confirmed Hunter as a sportsman who transcended his chosen pursuit to achieve celebrity status. | A splash of wedding photos in Hello! magazine confirmed Hunter as a sportsman who transcended his chosen pursuit to achieve celebrity status. |
| He should have reached the 2003 World Championship final, where he led Ken Doherty 15-9 in the semi-finals before the Irishman stormed back to win 17-16. | He should have reached the 2003 World Championship final, where he led Ken Doherty 15-9 in the semi-finals before the Irishman stormed back to win 17-16. |
| But, despite never winning the world title, Doherty labelled Hunter as one of snooker's "greatest characters". | But, despite never winning the world title, Doherty labelled Hunter as one of snooker's "greatest characters". |
| "It's a very sad day, not only for snooker but also for the sporting world," he said. | "It's a very sad day, not only for snooker but also for the sporting world," he said. |
| "We've lost a great character, champion and a great friend. It's a shocking loss. | "We've lost a great character, champion and a great friend. It's a shocking loss. |
| "He had everything, the world at his feet, and it's such a shame. He was one of our characters and a fantastic player. | "He had everything, the world at his feet, and it's such a shame. He was one of our characters and a fantastic player. |
| "Words can't explain what his family must be going through and they are all in our minds and our prayers." | "Words can't explain what his family must be going through and they are all in our minds and our prayers." |
| And Thorne believes Hunter would have certainly won at the Worlds if cancer had not struck. | And Thorne believes Hunter would have certainly won at the Worlds if cancer had not struck. |
| "Anyone who wins the Masters back-to-back is a great player," said Thorne. | "Anyone who wins the Masters back-to-back is a great player," said Thorne. |
| "Paul Hunter was a great player and I'm sure that he would have been a future world champion, without a doubt." | "Paul Hunter was a great player and I'm sure that he would have been a future world champion, without a doubt." |
| Despite chemotherapy treatment, Hunter continued to compete professionally but won only one match last season and fell from fifth to 34th in the rankings. | Despite chemotherapy treatment, Hunter continued to compete professionally but won only one match last season and fell from fifth to 34th in the rankings. |