'He was a joy': Remembering snooker's departed star a score of years on.
Everything the Leeds-born talent truly desired to do was compete on the baize.
A love for the game, caught at the very young age of three with the help of a tiny snooker set on his home's central table in the city of Leeds, would result in a pro playing days that saw him win six major trophies in a six-year span.
Now marks a score of years since the adored Hunter passed away from cancer, mere days prior to his twenty-eighth birthday.
But notwithstanding the loss of a phenomenal skill that went beyond the game he loved, his influence and memory on the sport and those who knew him persist as vibrant now.
'His passion was clear': A Childhood Obsession
"It was impossible to foresee in a billion years our son would become a professional snooker player," his mother says.
"But he just adored it."
Alan Hunter recalls how his son "wasn't bothered about anything else" except for snooker as a child.
"His dedication was constant," he notes. "He practiced every night after school."
After successfully badgering his dad to take him to a community venue to play on professional-standard tables at the age of eight, the budding player made the transition from table top snooker with remarkable ease.
His raw skill would be coached by the snooker legend Joe Johnson, from the adjacent city, at a now defunct club in the Leeds district of Yeadon.
Rapid Rise: The Path to Glory
With his family's urging to do his homework often being ignored as the game dominated, his parents took the "gamble" of taking Hunter out of school at the age of 14 to fully dedicate himself to forging a career in the game.
It was a resounding success. Within a short period, their adolescent had won his initial major win, the 1998 Welsh Open.
Considered one of snooker's toughest events to win because of the presence of elite players only, Hunter triumphed a trio of times, in 2001, 2002 and 2004.
'A Cheeky Charm': His Enduring Personality
But for all his success on the table, away from the game Hunter's down-to-earth charisma never left him.
"He had a great temperament did Paul," Alan says. "He was liked by everybody."
"Upon meeting him you'd take to him," Kristina states. "He was enjoyable. He'd make you comfortable."
Hunter's partner Lindsey, with whom he had a child, describes him as an "amazing, young cheeky beautiful soul" who was "witty, generous" and "typically the final guest at the party".
With his easy charm, handsome features and straight-talking media manner, not to mention his prodigious ability, Hunter quickly became snooker's pin-up for the new millennium.
No wonder then, that he was dubbed 'The Beckham of the Baize'.
Courage in Crisis: Illness and Resilience
In 2005, a year that should have signaled the zenith of his talent, Hunter was found to have cancer and would later undergo aggressive treatment.
Multiple stories from across the sporting world highlight the man's extraordinary willingness to keep promises to charity matches, tournaments, and media duties, all while undergoing treatment.
Despite harsh reactions, Hunter continued to compete through the illness and received a tumultuous reception at The famous Sheffield venue when he competed in the World Championships that year.
When he passed away in October 2006, snooker's close-knit fraternity lost one of its best-loved members.
"It's awful," Kristina says. "It is a terrible thing for any mum and dad to lose a child."
A Lasting Impact: Inspiring Youth
Hunter's true contribution would be felt not in high society but in community venues across the UK.
The Paul Hunter Foundation, set up before his death, would provide free snooker sessions to youths all over the country.
The initiative was so successful that, according to reports, anti-social behavior in some areas fell sharply.
"The idea was for a platform to help get kids off the street," one official said.
The Foundation helped establish the basis for a significant coaching programme, which has extended playing opportunities to children internationally.
"It would have thrilled him what we've done with the sport and where it is today," a leading figure in the sport stated.
Never Forgotten: A Lasting Presence
Classic footage of their son's matches via the internet help his parents stay "close to him".
"I can watch it and I can watch Paul at any moment," Kristina says. "It's marvellous!"
"We are happy to speak about Paul," she continues. "Before it would be tears, but I'd rather somebody talk than him not be mentioned at all."
Even though he never won the World Championship, the highly probable notion that Hunter would have secured snooker's top honor is ingrained in the sport's folklore.
The Masters, the competition with which he is most associated, commences later this month. The winner will lift the trophy named in his honor.
But for all his achievements, a generation after his death it is Paul Hunter's spirit, as much his brilliant talent on the table, that will ensure he is always remembered.
