🔗 Share this article 'He brought laughter': Reflecting on the sport's departed star 20 years on. Paul Hunter claimed The Masters thrice during a compact but stellar career. All Paul Hunter truly desired to do was practice the game. A sporting bug, sparked at the tender age of three with the help of a tiny snooker set on his family's living room table in his Leeds home, would lead to a life on the tour that saw him claim six major trophies in half a dozen years. The present year marks 20 years since the beloved Hunter died from cancer, days short to his birthday marking 28 years. But despite the tragic departure of a generational talent that went beyond the sport he adored, his enduring mark on the sport and those who knew him endure as vibrant now. 'His passion was clear': A Childhood Obsession "We could not have predicted in a million years Paul would become a career sportsman," Hunter's mum says. "Yet he just adored it." Alan Hunter recounts how his son "wasn't bothered about anything else" except for snooker as a child. "His dedication was constant," he says. "He competed every night after school." A prodigy: Hunter was acquainted with snooker from the very young age. After successfully badgering his dad to take him to a local club to play on regulation tables at the age of eight, the aspiring talent made the jump from home play with remarkable ease. His raw skill would be coached by the 1986 World Champion Joe Johnson, from the adjacent city, at a now defunct club in the Leeds district of Yeadon. Metoric Ascent: From Teenager to Champion With his parents' pleas to do his homework increasingly falling on deaf ears as training came first, his parents took the "gamble" of taking Hunter out of school at the age of 14 to fully focus on forging a career in the game. It was a resounding success. Within half a decade, their young son had won his initial major win, the 1998 Welsh Open. Considered one of snooker's hardest tournaments to win because of the presence of elite players only, Hunter was victorious on three occasions, in 2001, 2002 and 2004. 'A Gracious Competitor': His Enduring Personality But for all his achievements in competition, away from the game Hunter's humble charm never deserted him. "He was incredibly composed did Paul," Alan says. "He got on with everybody." "If you met him you'd enjoy his company," Kristina continues. "Paul was fun. He'd make you relaxed." Hunter's partner Lindsey, with whom he had a child, describes him as an "wonderful, youthful, and fun personality" who was "funny, kind" and "typically the final guest at the party". With his effortless appeal, youthful appearance and straight-talking media manner, not to mention his prodigious ability, Hunter quickly became snooker's pin-up for the modern era. No wonder then, that he was nicknamed 'The Beckham of the Baize'. A Brave Battle: Illness and Resilience In the mid-2000s, a year that should have signaled the height of his career, Hunter was diagnosed with cancer and would later undergo chemotherapy. Multiple anecdotes from across the professional tour attest to the man's extraordinary dedication to fulfill commitments to exhibitions, events and press interviews, all while enduring treatment. Despite harsh reactions, Hunter continued to compete through the illness and received a rapturous applause at The World Championship arena when he turned out for the World Championships that year. When he died in October 2006, snooker's tight community lost one of its most popular brothers. "It is tragic," Kristina says. "No parent should experience any mum and dad to lose a child." An Enduring Legacy: Giving Back Hunter's true legacy would be felt not in high society but in local sports centers across the UK. The foundation he inspired, set up before his death, would provide free snooker sessions to young people all over the country. The scheme was so successful that, according to reports, local youth crime rates in some areas dropped significantly. "The aim remained for a scheme to help get kids off the street," one organizer said. The Foundation helped lay the groundwork for a huge coaching programme, which has provided playing opportunities to children all over the world. "He would have embraced what we've done with the sport and where it is today," a leading figure in the sport stated. Always Remembered: A Lasting Presence Classic footage of their son's matches online help his parents stay "connected to him". "I can watch it and I can watch Paul whenever I wish," Kristina says. "It's a comfort!" "We don't mind talking about Paul," she continues. "At first it was sad, but I'd rather somebody mention him than him not be recalled." Although he never won the World Championship, the widespread belief that Hunter would have eventually won snooker's top honor is a part of the sport's legend. The Masters, the competition with which he is most associated, starts later this month. The winner will lift the memorial cup. But for all his achievements, two decades after his death it is Paul Hunter's personality, as much his dazzling snooker ability, that will ensure he is never forgotten.
Paul Hunter claimed The Masters thrice during a compact but stellar career. All Paul Hunter truly desired to do was practice the game. A sporting bug, sparked at the tender age of three with the help of a tiny snooker set on his family's living room table in his Leeds home, would lead to a life on the tour that saw him claim six major trophies in half a dozen years. The present year marks 20 years since the beloved Hunter died from cancer, days short to his birthday marking 28 years. But despite the tragic departure of a generational talent that went beyond the sport he adored, his enduring mark on the sport and those who knew him endure as vibrant now. 'His passion was clear': A Childhood Obsession "We could not have predicted in a million years Paul would become a career sportsman," Hunter's mum says. "Yet he just adored it." Alan Hunter recounts how his son "wasn't bothered about anything else" except for snooker as a child. "His dedication was constant," he says. "He competed every night after school." A prodigy: Hunter was acquainted with snooker from the very young age. After successfully badgering his dad to take him to a local club to play on regulation tables at the age of eight, the aspiring talent made the jump from home play with remarkable ease. His raw skill would be coached by the 1986 World Champion Joe Johnson, from the adjacent city, at a now defunct club in the Leeds district of Yeadon. Metoric Ascent: From Teenager to Champion With his parents' pleas to do his homework increasingly falling on deaf ears as training came first, his parents took the "gamble" of taking Hunter out of school at the age of 14 to fully focus on forging a career in the game. It was a resounding success. Within half a decade, their young son had won his initial major win, the 1998 Welsh Open. Considered one of snooker's hardest tournaments to win because of the presence of elite players only, Hunter was victorious on three occasions, in 2001, 2002 and 2004. 'A Gracious Competitor': His Enduring Personality But for all his achievements in competition, away from the game Hunter's humble charm never deserted him. "He was incredibly composed did Paul," Alan says. "He got on with everybody." "If you met him you'd enjoy his company," Kristina continues. "Paul was fun. He'd make you relaxed." Hunter's partner Lindsey, with whom he had a child, describes him as an "wonderful, youthful, and fun personality" who was "funny, kind" and "typically the final guest at the party". With his effortless appeal, youthful appearance and straight-talking media manner, not to mention his prodigious ability, Hunter quickly became snooker's pin-up for the modern era. No wonder then, that he was nicknamed 'The Beckham of the Baize'. A Brave Battle: Illness and Resilience In the mid-2000s, a year that should have signaled the height of his career, Hunter was diagnosed with cancer and would later undergo chemotherapy. Multiple anecdotes from across the professional tour attest to the man's extraordinary dedication to fulfill commitments to exhibitions, events and press interviews, all while enduring treatment. Despite harsh reactions, Hunter continued to compete through the illness and received a rapturous applause at The World Championship arena when he turned out for the World Championships that year. When he died in October 2006, snooker's tight community lost one of its most popular brothers. "It is tragic," Kristina says. "No parent should experience any mum and dad to lose a child." An Enduring Legacy: Giving Back Hunter's true legacy would be felt not in high society but in local sports centers across the UK. The foundation he inspired, set up before his death, would provide free snooker sessions to young people all over the country. The scheme was so successful that, according to reports, local youth crime rates in some areas dropped significantly. "The aim remained for a scheme to help get kids off the street," one organizer said. The Foundation helped lay the groundwork for a huge coaching programme, which has provided playing opportunities to children all over the world. "He would have embraced what we've done with the sport and where it is today," a leading figure in the sport stated. Always Remembered: A Lasting Presence Classic footage of their son's matches online help his parents stay "connected to him". "I can watch it and I can watch Paul whenever I wish," Kristina says. "It's a comfort!" "We don't mind talking about Paul," she continues. "At first it was sad, but I'd rather somebody mention him than him not be recalled." Although he never won the World Championship, the widespread belief that Hunter would have eventually won snooker's top honor is a part of the sport's legend. The Masters, the competition with which he is most associated, starts later this month. The winner will lift the memorial cup. But for all his achievements, two decades after his death it is Paul Hunter's personality, as much his dazzling snooker ability, that will ensure he is never forgotten.