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@Matthias Vandekerkhove 27 he was, my age. Like you say, way too young to be taken, and such a WASTE of talent. I remember watching this before school the next day and didn't want it to end. What an exciting player he was, and the matches these 2 players had was a joy to watch 👍
@@heliumtrophy I still can't watch snooker games for me there will always be that gap of the Legend that Paul Hunter was, growing up as a little kid I use to watch him play on TV.
Didn't really care who won cause they were both my favourite players at the time. RIP Paul Hunter, DEFINITELY gone too soon. He would have easily won a world championship if he was still alive. Such a humble guy. Had one of the best temperament as well.
The Beckham of the Baize. Absolutely tragic how this guy was robbed of his life and talent while in the prime of his career. So unfair. RIP, legend! ❤️
I always remember the vignettes they did on him one year at the World's...snooker's glamour boy! He was wearing sandals and only him and Beckham could get away with that! Wonderful player.
Can only echo other comments here. Absolute travesty what befell, Paul. He was undoubtedly a future World Champion in the making because not only did he have the all round game, he had the mental strength and bottle needed when under pressure, as demonstrated with these successive Masters’ final frame deciders he won. He was some player and had the looks to go with it, too.
O'Sullivan potted 4/5 great shots under pressure at the beginning of the frame but Hunter played great snooker that day because he was 6-2 down and made 5 centuries on his way back.This was his 3rd major at age 25.He had won 7 tournaments in all but back then there was only 6/7 tournaments a season.
Snooker, the indie-rock years. Teary eyed as always watching Paul in his pomp. Such a tragic shame he was robbed of a great life. He would have easily been a mulitple world champ
That's one title Ronnie will always look back on and think in his mind "I don't mind losing, it meant so much more sharing a final with a good friend rip Paul you was brilliant in that tournament" 🌹❤🌹
It still brings me to tears watching Paul, we shared a birthday though I am 10 years younger. Also from Yorkshire as well. He was my favourite player. Such a wonderful young man, exceptionally talented, kind, good-looking, funny. There is no justice in this world.
"I can't shake him off so I'm going to have to beat him off with a big stick." How Virgo manages to say that without pissing himself laughing is amazing.
He was an absolute Ronnie's cryptonite, even more accurate, relaxed and well-rounded, yet as good as Ronnie at positional play. Like an improved version of Stephen Hendry mixed with Ronnie or something. What a player...
you are spot on and how you have described him shows you how good he was , I remember that time being in my teens there was a real buzz around snooker because of him.
His passing was extremely sad and much too soon but let's not eulogize him into something he wasn't just because he got the better of O'Sullivan here. Your comment hints that he was equal or better than O'Sullivan ("even more accurate" and "as good as Ronnie at positional play"), and outright states that he was better than Hendry ("an improved version of Stephen Hendry"). O'Sullivan was ahead in their head-to-head 7-6, Hendry was ahead in their head-to-head 6-4. You might argue that O'Sullivan was at his peak in those years while Hunter was still young, but on the other hand you could also argue that Hendry was declining in those years. By the time of his passing aged 27, Hunter had won three lesser ranking events (Welsh Open and British Open), three masters, and held a highest world ranking of 4. Hendry at the around same age (we'll take a year off to consider Hunter's illness) in 1995 had already won 5 world championships, 3 UK championships, 5 masters, 37 other trophies, and been world number 1 for five years. O'Sullivan at around the same age (again we'll take an additional year off to consider Hunter's illness) in 2001 had been world champion, two UK championships, a masters. 18 other trophies, and a ranking high of three. I think it's fair to say that Hunter might have won a world championship or two. Players inferior to Hunter have won it (Ebdon, Dott, Bingham). But I think his success would have been closer to a Robertson/Murphy/Ding, possibly Williams, and at an absolute maximum push Selby. Not in the top tier which over the past 30 years has been O'Sullivan, Hendry, John Higgins.
If Hunter had lived on I truly believe he'd have won a least 1/2 world championships and another 1/2 Masters and maybe 1/2 uks,he was too good not to.Rip Paul Hunter and God bless your beautiful daughter and wife and your mother and father.
Lol, back then when everyone done that David Beckham hairstyles when he moved to Real madrid. What a good player Paul was. R.i.p. I hope his family is doing well.
What a classic and yes its such a shame that the great Paul is sadly passed away wish you was still about playing just like the young Beckham of snooker rip buddy❤❤❤
So sad he was taken so young. 3 masters in 4 years all 10-9 having being behind the entire match. Incredible. R.I.P Paul you’re still remembered fondly till this day
Paul Hunter & Jimmy White are the only players that didn't bother me when they beat O'Sullivan. Such a great character rip Mr Hunter you're truly missed by many. ❤🙏xXx🙏❤
Yeah I would've much preferred O'Sullivan winning this title but Hunter surviving the cancer he would get a year after. I remember wanting O'Sullivan to win here but Hunter's death just over 2 and a half year's later definitely had an effect on me.
They both share almost similar kind of play, when they are after a ball they are fully committed and aggressive as well.Moreover, pressure situations brings the best of Paul Hunter❤.
Not many players (if any) have received as much crowd support when playing Ronnie. The were evenly matched n the fan stakes. Would have been great competitors into their 50s - such a shame we lost Paul.
Both players sporting lovely long locks of hair back in 2004. A real shame we'd lose Paul two years later to the dreaded cancer. A wonderful three-time Masters champion in the early 2000s and should've won many more big titles this century.
No wonder Hendry couldn’t win anything in the 2000’s with these 2 great players. They were on a different level and Ronnie is still playing just as good. The standard was much better than the 90’s.