SNOOKER STAR PAUL DIES AT 27
loses fight against cancer
By John Kelly And Darren Lewis
SNOOKER ace Paul Hunter died last night at the age of 27 from cancer.
The married dad of one had been fighting ill health since he was diagnosed with stomach tumours in March last year.
Paul, former world No4, played on during treatment.
A friend said: "Despite his illness, this has come as a huge shock."
Seven-times world snooker champion Stephen Hendry said: "I am devastated."
Snooker stars paid tribute to three-time Masters champ Paul Hunter who died last night aged 27.
The player, dubbed the Beckham of the Baize, lost his battle against stomach cancer and passed away at a hospice close to his home.
His wife Lindsey is believed to have been at his bedside.
Snooker legend Jimmy White had rushed from London to Leeds to see pal Paul - left bald by chemotherapy - but tragically was too late.
John Parrot, 1991 World Champion, said: "Paul played the game with a smile on his face.
"He was a bright and bubbly character and I never heard him complain. He was always such a happy person. We're all going to miss him."
Seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry said: "I'm absolutely devastated by the news.
"He had a fantastic future in front of him. It's everyone's worst nightmare and puts everything into perspective."
He added: "Every player on the circuit was pulling for him to come through because he was a really nice boy who never fell out with anyone - he just wanted to play the game."
Born in Leeds, Hunter was one of the sport's most promising players.
He was spotted at the age of 12 and taken under the wing of former world No.1 Joe Johnson.
He turned professional at 16 and won his first major title, the 1998 Welsh Open, aged 19.
His best World Championship performance came when he reached the semi-finals in 2003. He led Ken Doherty 15-9 before the Irishman stormed back to win 17-16.
Willie Thorne, a former top 10 player and now a commentator, said last night: "He was suffering a little bit at the end so it's very, very sad. Deep down I think we all thought he was going to beat the disease."
He added: "I'm sure he would have been a future World Champion without a doubt."
Hunter, whose daughter Evie Rose was born on Boxing Day last year, was diagnosed with rare neuro endocrine tumours in March 2005. Towards the end he was battling 60 tumours.
He continued playing but won only one match last season and fell from fourth to 34th in the rankings.
In July he took a year out and his application to have his ranking frozen was granted by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
A pal said: "A few weeks ago his condition deteriorated markedly and he was taken to the hospice on Friday. We still expected him to hang on for a few more weeks and everyone is stunned by how quickly this has happened."
Paul, who would have been 28 on Saturday, died at 8.20pm last night in the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield where he went last Friday. His manager Brendon Parker cut short a holiday in Barbados to be at his bedside.
One of the game's characters, Paul admitted he and Lindsey - then his girlfriend - had sex in his dressing room during matches.
After his first Masters title win, he revealed: "I had to do something to break the tension.
"It was only a quick session - 10 minutes or so - but afterwards I played like a dream.
"I reeled off four centuries in six frames and won easily."
The couple married in Jamaica two years ago and just a few months ago she spoke proudly of how her husband was fighting the disease, saying: "Throughout his illness, Paul has never once said, 'Why me?' or wished it on anybody else. He's just got on with it."
World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: "Paul was a man who had everything going for him. It's a bitter blow for snooker but most importantly for his family and our thoughts are with them."
Mirror
