Remembering Masters snooker legend Paul Hunter - 'The Beckham of the Baize'

Between 2001 and 2004, Hunter won the coveted Masters title three times, each in unforgettable final-frame style. In such a fiercely competitive format, Hunter’s performances were nothing short of legendary.

Hunter captured the sporting world with his charm and ability, however, his life was tragically cut short by cancer at the age of 27. On the eve of the 51st Masters tournament, this piece remembers the contribution of one of the brightest stars in British sport, detailing his several brilliant triumphs at the event.

Breaking onto the scene: Paul Hunter’s early years

Hunter first picked up a cue at a very young age, and as any boy from Leeds would, he soon made his way over to the Northern Snooker Centre. Here Hunter quickly made noise in the local setup, where he made a habit of outgunning players many years his senior.

Recognising this gift as a cueist, Hunter left school at the young age of 14 to focus on his snooker, and from then on he would often travel to Bradford to practise with established professionals - like 1986 World Champion Joe Johnson.

Hunter soon advanced through the amateur setup, finishing runner-up in the 1995 English Amateur Championship to David Gray, before making a leap into the professional game at the age of 16. His clear natural talent rapidly shone through, and he quickly picked up minor titles and progressively rose through the rankings.

Due to the success in his young career, Hunter was invited to play in the preliminary stage of the 1997 Masters, where he lost in underwhelming fashion to Mark Williams 1-5. However, unbeknownst to the snooker world, this match would be the precursor to a legendary chain of events that would place in the highest echelon of snooker annals.

The following year, Hunter established himself on the tour by winning the Welsh Open at the age of 19 - by doing so receiving Young Player of the Year by the Snooker Writers Association.

Hunter battled his way to world number 12 in the 1999-2000 rankings and maintained good form across the following season, reaching the quarter-finals in five ranking tournaments and finishing runner-up at the 2001 Welsh Open.

2001 Masters - Hunter’s first Triple Crown win

Following this strong form, Hunter entered the 2001 Masters full of confidence. Hunter began the campaign by eliminating defending champion Matthew Stevens in the opening round 6-5, which sent a formidable statement of intent to the rest of the top 16. He then saw off Peter Ebdon 6-3 in the quarter-finals and seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry 6-4 in the semi-finals.

The opponent awaiting him in the final was to be the unlikely Irishman Fergal O’Brien, who was similarly participating in his first Triple Crown final. What resulted in the first two hours of the final was nothing short of a disaster for the Leeds man; by the mid-session interval, he found himself 6-2 down and seemingly out of ideas.

Hunter however, had a trick up his sleeve - aptly using the break in play as window to see to his fiancée Lindsey at the hotel near the venue. After this unlikely source of inspiration, Hunter returned to the baize a different man altogether, staging a remarkable comeback, winning seven of the next nine frames in an aggressive, free-flowing barrage of brilliance that left O’Brien dumbfounded.

He eventually took the final frame to win 10-9, lifting the trophy for the first time and marking the beginning of his famous love affair with the Masters.

2002 Masters - Hunter defends his Masters crown

If his first Masters victory was not dramatic enough, Hunter more than doubled down on the drama with his 2002 showing. He began his title defence with a routine beating of Stephen Lee, before facing Peter Ebdon for a second year running. Ebdon put up a stronger fight this time around, but still lost in a deciding frame.

Hunter repeated the result against Alan McManus in the semi-final, in trademark white-knuckle style. Hunter entered a second straight final facing a fearsome opponent in two-time World Champion Mark Williams, who had the better of him in all six previous meetings with a combined frame score of 30-9.

Once again, after a scintillating first session Hunter found himself in a spot of bother. He was 5-3 behind and even the most optimistic of Hunter fanatics were doubtful of a comeback.

But of course, snooker’s answer to Harry Houdini was not to be worried. With his back against the wall, Hunter unleashed an unrelenting series of big breaks, including a tournament-high 141 clearance which stunned the Welshman. Hunter capped off a remarkable victory with another final frame decider - forever cementing his name in Masters folklore.

2004 Masters - Hunter completes historic Masters treble

Hunter arrived at the 2004 Masters after losing the title the previous year, where a 6-3 Mark Williams revenge mission finally put a stop to Hunter’s reign. The now 25-year old was bidding to reclaim the crown he had become accustomed to having, and he started off by brushing aside David Gray 6-3 in the opening round.

Hunter’s quarter-final opponent was a familiar face, taking on Mark Williams for a third year running. Another final frame decider saw him through to the semi final where he then toppled another ‘Class of 92’ member in John Higgins 6-3, only for the last member to be waiting for him in the final - Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The final more than lived up to the hype. In typical Hunter fashion, he found himself 6-2 down at the break, with O’Sullivan moving 7-2 ahead the following frame. Surely, even for Hunter, this was too much to turn around?

Hunter responded in the way only he could, rallying to win four in a row to make it 7-6, before O’Sullivan answered back to make it 9-7. In an astonishing test of bottle, Hunter made clearances of 110 and 58 to take the match to a decider, before he took his third title in a nervy deciding frame.

The Yorkshireman had done it - a third Masters crown, compounding his already great legacy.

Later years and diagnosis

The 2004 Masters final subsequently went down as one of the best matches of all time, and in April 2016 the tournament trophy was named in his honour, as a tribute to the great matches and moments he took part in.

Aside from his success in the Masters, Hunter also bagged three rankings events, winning the Welsh Open in 1998 and 2002 and the 2002 British Open. He reached world number four and came agonisingly close to a Crucible final in 2003, when he was 15-9 up to Ken Doherty but ultimately missing out 17-16. As gracious in defeat as in victory, Hunter was awaiting Doherty backstage to send him his best wishes for the final.

In 2005, Hunter was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours, a rare aggressive form of cancer. He showed remarkable bravery in giving transparency to his intensive treatment, as he continued to compete in tournaments during the entire process, showing phenomenal strength and courage. However, on the 9th October 2006, the world lost Paul Hunter - passing just five days before his 28th birthday.

While his life and career were terribly cut short, his impact on snooker is profound and will stand the test of time. The three Masters victories will remain among the most thrilling in the sport’s history, and he continues to inspire new generations of players as a symbol of joy, courage and humanity. Snooker’s loss of Paul Hunter was a great setback, but the ‘Beckham of the Baize’ will not be forgotten.