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| Hundreds gather at Hunter funeral | Hundreds gather at Hunter funeral |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of mourners assembled in Leeds Parish Church and many more gathered outside for the funeral of snooker professional Paul Hunter. | Hundreds of mourners assembled in Leeds Parish Church and many more gathered outside for the funeral of snooker professional Paul Hunter. |
| The three-times Masters champion died of cancer at Kirkwood Hospice, Huddersfield last Monday, aged 27. | The three-times Masters champion died of cancer at Kirkwood Hospice, Huddersfield last Monday, aged 27. |
| Matthew Stevens, Hunter's closest friend on the circuit, was one of the pallbearers at the service. | Matthew Stevens, Hunter's closest friend on the circuit, was one of the pallbearers at the service. |
| Meanwhile, many of Hunter's fellow professionals were due to form a guard of honour for their friend's coffin. | Meanwhile, many of Hunter's fellow professionals were due to form a guard of honour for their friend's coffin. |
| Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and six-time winner Steve Davis were joined by Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Ryan Day, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Willie Thorne. | Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and six-time winner Steve Davis were joined by Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Ryan Day, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Willie Thorne. |
| Hunter's coffin has been inside the church for the past two days and thousands have signed a book of condolence started by his widow Lindsey and 10-month-old daughter Evie Rose. | Hunter's coffin has been inside the church for the past two days and thousands have signed a book of condolence started by his widow Lindsey and 10-month-old daughter Evie Rose. |
| Lindsey Hunter watched as the coffin was carried into the church by six pallbearers wearing the snooker player's "uniform" of a dark suit with a black bow tie. | |
| The hearse was covered in floral tributes. | |
| Mrs Hunter follows her husband's coffin into Leeds Parish Church | |
| Down one side, the words "My daddy" were spelt out in pink roses and next to a photograph of Hunter was a card which simply said "From your princess". | |
| Other flowers on the car spelt out the words "Legend", "Son" and "Bro". | |
| Jimmy White was among the first of the players to arrive, with those following forming a roll-call of the famous names of the sport. | |
| John Virgo, Willie Thorne and Steve Davis chatted with other mourners as Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty and Shaun Murphy were among the many others who filed into the church. | |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan was one of the later players to arrive. | |
| I admired the kid so much, he battled so very hard these last two or three years Willie Thorne | |
| Speaking outside the church, fans' favourite Willie Thorne said: "I'm deeply saddened. | |
| "He's just going to be so sadly missed. He had a great personality, so you never knew whether he had won or lost. | |
| "I admired the kid so much, he battled so very hard these last two or three years." | |
| Bald Thorne recalled how Hunter used to say he did not mind the chemotherapy "as long as I don't end up looking like Willie Thorne." | |
| Also speaking outside the church, former world champion Dennis Taylor said: "Paul just stood out a mile. He was just so good for our game. | |
| "It's just a dreadfully sad loss. He would have certainly been a world champion, that's for sure." | |
| Taylor recalled a particular final clash between Hunter and Ronnie O'Sullivan, saying the two of them walked to the table like "two pop stars". |