08 January 2024 , 08:50
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Snooker world no. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan has hailed "the Beckham of snooker" Paul Hunter on the anniversary of his third Masters triumph.
Hunter famously won three titles in four years between 2001 and 2004 before sadly passing away due to cancer at just 27 in 2006. His three victories came in the most dramatic of fashions - all of them being 10-9 deciders with O'Sullivan the beaten finalist in the 2004 invitational.
Since then, 'The Rocket' has gone on to take his success to unprecedented levels. Ahead of kicking off his campaign for an eighth title against Ding Junhui, O'Sullivan has ensured to pay tribute to ‘Beckham of the Baize’.
He said: “Paul was an unbelievable talent. He definitely had that star power and transcended the game. He was the Beckham of the snooker, wasn’t he. He was a good looking boy. He always had a smile on his face and was a good lad.
“He was brilliant for the game, he was a lovely lad and had a lovely family. I had some good times and some good memories with Paul. He will never be forgotten, all the players loved him. He will always be in the hearts of the snooker players and everybody who knew him.”
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Hunter's impact on the game cannot be understated. The famous waterfront crystal Masters trophy was renamed in Hunter’s honour in 2017. Meanwhile, his titanic clash against O'Sullivan - where he came from 6-1 behind - is widely considered as one of the best matches of all time.
The 48-year-old has since claimed the mid-noughties six of him, Hunter, Mark Williams, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Matthew Stevens was snooker at its peak. He added: "I've always said that snooker enjoyed a golden era when Hendry, Higgins, Williams, Stevens, the great Paul Hunter and myself were battling it out. I truly believe that was the best top six ever."
Paul Hunter celebrates his Masters triumph (Getty Images)Who will win this year's Masters? Share your predictions in the comments below
O'Sullivan is not the inly one to have hailed Hunter on the anniversary of his third success. Former champion Alan Mcmanus also paid tribute 30 years on from his own Masters triumph.
He has claimed that one of his best memories was attending the champions' event in the aftermath. He still hopes another similar event is staged but wishes Hunter could be there. He recalled: "I remember one year there was an evening for all the former winners and they invited Kirk Stevens because he made the first ever Masters 147.
“It was amazing to be among those players. Because you have to be a special player to win the Masters. I wasn’t, but the rest were all special players.
“It would be great if they did another one. But one regret I would have would be that Paul Hunter wouldn’t be there. He's an icon of the game. He was some player. He would be there in spirit with the trophy. These things are important to snooker people, if the game’s inside you like it is for me.”