LATE LEGEND Who was snooker legend Paul Hunter, and what caused his death?
The star was known as the “Beckham of the Baize”
PAUL HUNTER was a famous snooker player when he was alive, and his legacy lives on long after he died at the age of 27.
The sportsman is recognised each year at the Masters competition, when contestants compete for the Paul Hunter Trophy.
Who was the legendary snooker player Paul Hunter?
Paul Hunter, a British snooker player, tragically died in 2006.
He was famed for his long blonde hair, which led to similarities to David Beckham and the nickname “Beckham of the Baize”.
Hunter was born on October 15, 1978 in Yorkshire.
He was a dedicated snooker player from a young age and made his professional debut in July 1995, at the age of 16.
Paul won the Masters three times: 2001, 2002, and 2004.
He also won the Welsh Open in 1998, 2002, and the British Open in 2002.
Following his death, the sportsman was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and the Masters Trophy was renamed in his honour in 2017.
One of Paul’s most notable snooker matches was his win over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2004 Masters final.
In 2024, on the 20th anniversary of the legendary encounter, O’Sullivan paid respect to his late foe.
He stated, “Paul was an extraordinary talent. He obviously has star power and transcended the game.
“Wasn’t he the Beckham of snooker?” He was a good-looking boy who usually smiled and was a nice person.
“I had some nice times and good memories with Paul; he will never be forgotten, and all the players adored him.
“He will always be in the hearts of the snooker players and everybody who knew him.”
What was Paul Hunter’s cause of death?
Paul died of cancer in October 2006, when he was 27.
He was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours in April 2005.
According to the NHS, a neuroendocrine tumour is “a rare tumour that can develop in many different organs of the body.”
They further state that the rumours “affect the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream.”
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