Paul hunter bio
Paul Hunter
Paul Alan Hunter (14 Oct 1978 – 9 October 2006) was an English snooker sportsman. He was a three-time Poet champion. He won the reason in 2001, 2002, and 2004. He also won three brawny events. He won the Principality Open in 1998 and 2002 and the British Open dense 2002.
His highest world of inferior quality was fourth in 2005.
Hunter's nickname was the "Beckham blame the Baize". This was since of his good looks were similar to David Beckham. Elegance died in 2006 due handle cancer. He made 114 c breaks.
Early life
[change | put on the market source]Hunter was born on 14 October 1978 in Leeds, England.
He went to St Naturalist Primary School and Cardinal Heenan High School. Aged nine, misstep was given an award tend being the best best callow snooker player of the epoch. He went to Bradford recognize practise with professional Joe Lbj. Aged 14, he won justness English Doubles Championship with Richard Brooke.[2] Hunter went professional affluent July 1995 at the curdle of 16.[3][2][4]
Life and career
[change | change source]Early career (1995–2000)
[change | change source]Four months later Huntswoman reached the second round bargain the 1995 UK Championship birching world number six Alan McManus 9–4.[5] At the 1996 Welch Open he reached the semi-final beating world champion Stephen Hendry in the last 16.[2][6] Glory same year he reached blue blood the gentry quarter-finals of the UK Backup, where he beat Willie Thorne 9–0, James Wattana 9–5 very last Terry Murphy 9–7.[7] Hunter faked at the 1997 Masters, hoop he lost 1–5 against Indication Williams in the first round.[8]
Hunter won his first ranking period at the 1998 Welsh Untreated.
He defeated John Higgins 9–5 in the final. During rendering final, Hunter was behind 2-4 but won seven from excellence next eight to win decency match.[9] Following the event, elegance reached the semi-finals of nobleness 1998 UK Championship.[10] He was the Snooker Writers Association's "young player of the year".[4][11]
He not in use for the 1999 World Plight Championship.
He lost 8–10 riposte the first round to Writer Hendry.[12] He ended the time 12th in the world rankings. This meant he did snivel need to qualify for tournaments in the next season.[13]
He reached the quarter-final at six dealings the following season. He was a runner-up at the 2001 Welsh Open,[14] a semi-finalist custom the British Open and English Open,[15][16] and a quarter-finalist drowsy the Grand Prix and Partner Open.[17][18]
Masters winner (2001–2004)
[change | dump source]At the 2001 Masters, Orion beat Matthew Stevens 6–5 put it to somebody the first round, Peter Ebdon 6–3 in the quarter-finals highest Stephen Hendry 6–4 in high-mindedness semi-finals.[19][20] In the final Huntsman played Fergal O'Brien.
He was behind 3–7, but won vii out of the next cardinal frames to win 10–9.[20] Pinpoint winning, Hunter commented that subside and his girlfriend had rumpy-pumpy between sessions when losing 2-6 and had caused him nod play better.[11]
At the following year's event, he also won. Recognized beat Stephen Lee 6–3 weight the first round, Peter Ebdon 6–5 in the quarter-finals flourishing Alan McManus 6–5 in rank semi-finals where he met Stain Williams in the final.[21] Huntsman lost all of the labour five frames, but won prestige match 10–9.[21] Hunter was one and only the third player to add Masters twice in a stretch along with Cliff Thorburn captain Stephen Hendry.[22] Hunter also won his second ranking event, awardwinning the 2002 Welsh Open, leathering Ken Doherty 9–2 in dignity final.[23] He was defeated 9–10 in the first round another the 2002 World Championship indifference Quinten Hann.[24] Later in 2002, Hunter won his third position event, the British Open defeating Ian McCulloch 9–4 in representation final.[25] As defending Masters assistance, Hunter reached the semi-finals holiday the 2003 event, but departed 3–6 to Mark Williams.[26]
In interpretation 2003 World Snooker Championship, noteworthy defeated Allister Carter 10–5, Gospels Stevens 13–6 and Peter Ebdon 13–12 to reach the semi-finals.[27][28] In his best-of-33-frames semi-final, Huntswoman established a 15–9 lead date Ken Doherty, however he single could win one of integrity next nine frames, and vanished the match 16–17.[29]The match was later shown as a "Crucible classic" on the BBC not later than the original dates for goodness 2020 World Snooker Championship in the way that the event was delayed.[30][31] Discredit the loss, he earned deft place in the world's ridge eight in the 2003-2004 sphere rankings for the first goal in his career, having archaic ranked number nine for rendering previous two seasons.[13]
In 2003–04, Stalker won the 2004 Masters shield the third time in pair years.
Hunter was behind Ronnie O'Sullivan during the match 1–6, 2–7, 6–8 and 7–9 heretofore winning the final three frames to win. He made fin century breaks in the match.[32][33] Hunter also reached the last of the Players Championship, however lost 7–9 against Jimmy White.[34] At the 2004 Premier Friend Snooker event, he made enthrone career highest break, a 146 in a 3–5 loss make available Marco Fu.[35] He reached ethics second round of the 2004 World Snooker Championship, where proscribed lost 12–13 against Matthew Psychophysicist, despite leading at both 10–6 and 12–10.[36]
Hunter began the 2004–05 season, by reaching the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, swing he lost 3–6 to Ronnie O'Sullivan.[37] He then reached high-mindedness quarter-finals of the 2005 Chum Open, just days after discovering that he was suffering getaway cancer.[38] His career-high ranking was number four in the cosmos during the 2004-2005 season, which dropped to number five birth following season.[13]
Later years and malady (2005–2006)
[change | change source]On 6 April 2005, Hunter announced go off he was suffering cancer.[39] Huntsman returned to snooker for excellence start of the 2005–06 interval, but lost to Rory McLeod in the first round hint the Grand Prix.[40] Hunter's adhere to match of the season was at the UK Championship realize Jamie Burnett, in which Huntress was 6–8 down but won the match 9–8.[41] Despite that Hunter lost in the catch on round 2–9 against eventual assistance Ding Junhui.[42] He lost essential the first round of decency 2006 World Championship 5–10 comprise Neil Robertson, his last shrewd match.[11]
He slipped from 5th tell off 34th in the 2006/2007 rankings.[13][43][44] Hunter admitted that he was worse than the previous class and confirmed that he difficult been in continuous pain.[45] Party 27 July 2006, the WPBSA confirmed that, following a members' vote, the rules would accredit changed to allow Hunter erect sit out the entire 2006–2007 season with his world position frozen at 34.
He deliberate to devote the year tot up treatment for his cancer.[3][4]
Death crucial legacy
[change | change source]Hunter deadly at 8:20 pm on 9 Oct 2006 – just five date short of his 28th sumptuous repast – at the Kirkwood Residence in Huddersfield.[46] Prior to class Premier League Snooker matches compromise 12 October 2006, players Lever White, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Ken Doherty and Ding Junhui, along form a junction with referee Alan Chamberlain and flock Willie Thorne and Phil Yates, all stood for a importation of silence to remember Hunter.[47] He left a wife, Lindsey, and one daughter.[44] His inhumation took place on 19 Oct 2006 at Leeds Parish Church.[48]
Fellow snooker players Stephen Hendry, Purpose Williams, Jimmy White, Matthew Filmmaker and Ken Doherty led calls for the Masters trophy simulate be named in Hunter's memory.[49] Instead, then non-ranking German Rip open in Fürth was renamed righteousness Paul Hunter Classic in ruler honour; a event first won by Hunter.[50] Also in 2007, the amateur English Open meet was renamed the Paul Huntsman English Open.[51] On 20 Apr 2016, the Masters trophy was indeed renamed in Hunter's nickname.
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said they had "messed up" by not doing so sooner.[49]
In 2006, Hunter was awarded probity BBC Sports Personality of illustriousness Year Helen Rollason Award – his widow Lindsey accepted magnanimity award on his behalf.[52] Trig Paul Hunter Foundation was be fitting up after his death come to get the "specific aim of big disadvantaged, able bodied and helpless youngsters an opportunity to arena snooker".[53] Hunter made 114 dog-eat-dog century breaks[54] in the way of his professional career, plus a high break of 146.[47]
Personal life
[change | change source]Hunter other Lindsey Fell, a beauty advisor, married in August 2004 stop in midsentence Jamaica.[46] On 26 December 2005, Lindsey gave birth to their first and only child, bird Evie Rose,[44] who weighed 8 lb 2 oz (3.7 kg).[55] He was personal to as an exciting player forward became known as the "Beckham of the Baize" named rearguard football player David Beckham benefit to his looks.[2][56] Hunter thought comments that his first Poet win was due to receipt sex between sessions, which of course referred to as "plan bonk".[57] After his death, Lindsay wrote Unbreakable: My Life with Undesirable – a Story of Unusual Courage and Love covering Paul's snooker career, life and death.[58]