Paul Hunter

Named “Young Player of the Year” by the Snooker Writers Association in 1998, Paul Hunter enjoys his first ranking tournament victory at the Regal Welsh Open 1998, after defeating John Higgins in the final. He will return as winner of the same tournament in 2002 (Hunter v Ken Doherty 9-7).

Paul Hunter is “a very good break builder”, who “loves to play aggressive players “, “a danger to anybody” – John Virgo (2001).

And indeed, Hunter proved to be a master of the cue at the Benson & Hedges Masters tournament, winning the title three times in the last 4 years. “I remember watching the Masters on television as a kid. The first time I played here as a wild-card against Mark Williams I could hardly hold the cue. I knew then that I really wanted to win this tournament because there’s such a great atmosphere here; it’s such a great venue. Now I’ve won it three times.” In 2001, he recovered from a 7-3 deficit to win 10-9 against Fergal O’Brien, after defeating Stephen Hendry 6-4 in the semi-final. Same story in 2002, just a different opponent: Mark Williams. After wins over David Gray, Mark Williams and John Higgins, in 2004 Hunter came up against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final and fell 7-2 behind. But he stormed back in his already well-known manner and won 10-9. “I’ve done it before but no disrespect to Fergal O’Brien, to do it against Ronnie is unbelievable. …It wasn’t as though I played badly during the first session – I made two centuries. I just stuck in there like I’ve done before and it worked. … I have always been a good break-builder but my safety play has improved over the years. It had to. If you let Ronnie off the hook he’s going to punish you and that’s what happened this afternoon.” “Paul Hunter is such a great player. He plays well, he’s a tough competitor. That’s why he has now won the Masters three times.” (Ronnie O’Sullivan, 2004 – Masters).

Another important victory was the one against Ian McCulloch in 2002 at the British Open in Telford.

A shattering disappointment of losing 17-16 to Ken Doherty came in the semi-finals of 2003 Embassy World Championship after leading 15-9. “I was disappointed to lose that match. I’m not going to deny it; I was really gutted. That was the most hurt I have ever felt in my life over a snooker match. … But, like Ronnie says, it’s only a game. It was the end of the season and I just had to get over it. I had a couple of months off, then went back to practice and tried to forget about it.” In 2004 at the Embassy World Championship, Hunter got eliminated in the second round by Matthew Stevens (12-13). With this occasion, Hunter reiterated his desire to become world champion: "You've got to believe in yourself in this game and I do - before the end of my career I will definitely be lifting that silver trophy. I was trying my hardest but I suppose the pressure did get to me a bit. … He was a bit lucky, but that's snooker and it's not the end of the world."

In April 2004, at the Daily Record Players Championship at the SECC in Glasgow, Hunter worked his way up winning against Ding Junhui, Steve Davis, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ken Doherty. In the final he faced no one else than his boyhood idol, Jimmy White “the Whirlwind”. Even though Hunter lost 9-7, he said: “I’m happy for Jimmy because he’s a good friend off the table and if there’s anyone I would want to lose to in a final it would be him. …It’s good for the game too. I started playing snooker because of Jimmy. I based my game on his and he’s still my hero. He cued a lot better than me tonight and the score line was about right.”

Known as the ‘Beckham of the baize’ for his likeness to the England footballer, Hunter and Lyndsey Fell tied the knot in Jamaica in the summer of 2004, with Hello magazine winning the exclusive rights to the wedding pictures for snooker’s most glamorous couple.

Monica Oana Hayes 2005