The Hunter hot ten
Leeds-born snooker player Paul Hunter lost his battle with cancer on Monday 9 October 2006 at the age of 27.
One of the most popular players on the snooker circuit, he brought glamour into the game thanks to his charisma and boy-band looks. Hunter passed away just five days before his 28th birthday, leaving behind wife Lyndsey and 10 month old daughter Evie Rose.
1. That's your cue: Hunter first picked up a cue at the age of three after being given a snooker table as a Christmas present. His first game was against his dad, who thrashed him 3-0.
2. Going pro:
The Yorkshireman turned professional at the age of 16. He won his first title, the 1998 Welsh Open at 19, seeing off top players including: Steve Davis, the six-times world champion, Nigel Bond, Alan McManus and Peter Ebdon.
3. As good as gold:
'The Man with the Golden Cue' was also known as the 'Beckham of the baize', a tag he did little to resist: "If people see me as a good-looking lad, successful in what he does, and I'm compared to someone like Beckham, it's got to be a compliment, hasn't it? It's better than being called ugly, I suppose. No, I love it, me."
4. Up in smoke:
In 1999, after celebrating his 21st birthday, he tested positive for a non-performance enhancing drug taken during the Grand Prix in Bournemouth: marijuana. He forfeited his prize money for reaching the last 16 and was docked ranking points.
5. Getting shirty:
Paul was a big favourite with the ladies. Before the Chinese Open in 2006, T-shirts bearing the slogan "I love Paul Hunter” T-shirts were on sale outside the Beijing Students University Gymnasium.
6. Completely bonkers: He famously revealed that during the 2001 Masters title final at Wembley, he had resorted to plan 'b' (that's bonk) with Lyndsey, then his girlfriend when he was losing the match. Following their ten minutes of fun in a hotel closeby to the venue, Hunter went on to win the match comfortably.
7. Special offer:
He once jokingly offered his best mate, Matthew Stevens, a free night of passion with Lyndsey if he could beat Graeme Dott in a World title semi-final match.
8. Masters:
Although he was considered a World Champion in waiting, he didn't ever win the big one. He was, however, a three-time winner of the Wembley Masters title.
9. Illness strikes: In March 2005 he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours in the lining of his stomach, although he continued to play through the pain and after chemotherapy, fell from fifth to 34th in the rankings.
10. Timely tribute:
The Snooker Writers association paid tribute to the memory of Paul Hunter by re-naming its Newcomer of The Year award in his honour. In 1998, Hunter himself won the prize, which was sponsored by his management company Wheels In Motion.
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