Career Profile:
Paul Hunter was born 1978 in Leeds and the first time he played Snooker was at age 3. Educated at the Cardinal Heenan High School in Leeds and had become an outstanding junior talent by the age of 12. "I came from a normal working-class family on a council estate in Leeds and I've never forgotten how much help and encouragement my parents [Alan and Christina] gave me in the early years", said Paul. "They drove me everywhere to junior tournaments and even allowed me to leave school at 14 - against mum's better judgment - to concentrate on snooker, so it's nice to be able to give them something back.
He won the Leicester Junior Open twice and joined then the professionals in 1995. He fullfilled the high hopes as he reached with only 17 years the semi final of the ranking event the 1996 Regal Welsh Open and was the youngest player to reach that stage. He beated Stephen Hendry in the quarter final but then Paul was beaten by John Parrott in the semi final. After his first season among the professionals he had his first World Ranking placement at No. 78 and complied 12 century breaks.
The next season 1996/1997 he continued his promising run by reaching the UK Championships quarter final and moved up in the World ranking to No. 43.
In 1998 he had his first big success by winning the Regal Welsh Open, his first ranking title! To reach the final he beated Steve Davis, Nigel Bond, Alan McManus, Peter Ebdon and in the final Worlds No. 2 John Higgins with 9-5. He became the second youngest winner of an ranking tournament! A new star arrived at the scene, he moved up in the world rankings on No.24. But he still could not qualify for the World Championships for the third time. Nevertheless, the achievement at the Welsh Open earned him the Young Player of the Year award by the Snooker Writers Association .
In 1998/1999 he reached the semi final of the UK Championships and the quarter final of the Regal Scottish and he qualified for the World Championships and reached the last 32. This was enough to move him up to the top 16 of the World Ranking at No.12.
He did not live up to expectations in 1999/2000 and was criticised for spending too much time enjoying the good life rather than concentrating on his game. "I was drinking too much between matches and preferred going out with the lads rather than practice, said Paul. "I realised I was being a fool to myself. You only get out of the game what you are put in and for a time I just wasn’t working hard enough." He failed to progress beyond the last 16 in any event and three times lost his opening match. His world ranking fell to 14th.
In the 2000/2001 season it was obvious he needed to regain to the game to prove he was no fluke and has still great potentional. It was certainly a big boost to Paul's confidence to get to the semi final of the British Open. In the last 16 of this event he had an amazing win over Billy Snaddon. Paul was 4-0 down as he recovered after the mid session interval to have a blasting comback and took the last five frames: "Billy played so well to lead 4-0 and I didn’t feel that disappointed as there wasn’t a lot I could do about it," Paul said afterwards. "The break through came at the right time for me and I scored just as heavily as he had done after the interval." In the quarter final he had another thrilling 5-4 victory over Gary Ponting. Paul told a wish after the match on who he would like to play next in the semi final: "I hope's it's Jimmy White, I'll look forward to that match." He got his wish but White was to strong and won 6-2.
At the Grand Prix he won his first round over Steve Davis 5-2 with breaks of 91 and 69 and being lucky having a fluke in both. "When you get a bit of luck like that you have to capitalise on it, there’s no point feeling sorry." In the next round he had a harder match 5-4 against his friend Stephen Lee. "It's tough playing someone you know so well, you have to be evil. I also had to concentrate on what I was doing from start to finish. But I'm enjoying the game again and happy enough with my form." With that he reached a quarter final of a second successive ranking event. There would meet Worlds No. 1 Mark Williams and commented: "I'm the underdog against Mark but I won't mind that one bit. I'm looking forward to playing him." He had another match being 4-0 behind after the intervall Paul could have a comaback but only to lose 5-3.
Unfortunately he lost the first round in the UK Championships but got back in the China Open. He just needed one hour to whitewash Ken Doherty 5-0, the former World Champion. "I didn't miss a thing and I certainly can't complain at winning 5-0 again. I was short of confidence last season but now its back again to where it was two or three years ago. I can win any tournament the way I'm playing." But then a hard match in the quarters followed against Ronnie O' Sullivan. Paul was leading 3-0 but Ronnie fighted back to get a 3-2 lead then 4-3 to defeat Paul 5-4. "I am pleased with the way I've played in the tournament, and I possibly didn't get the run of the ball today," said Paul after the match. "I think I probably did enough to win this match, but you always need that little bit of luck on your side".
 Paul could achieve another whitewash 5-0 in the Regal Welsh against Nick Walker. In the quarter final he started with a magnificent 128 break. Then won 5-2 to Joe Swail. "This was my best match this week and I have no complaints about my game. Things are going well and I am looking forward to my next game against Stephen Lee." There he defeated the Worlds No. 5, 6-3 having breaks of 97 and 72. Ken Doherty had in the final a revenge winning 9-2 as he lost to Paul 5-0 in the China Open. But Paul wasn't disapointed about his game: "I've played really well all week and I think things just didn't go for me today. Ken wasn't really at his best, but he did enough to beat me. I'm really pleased with the week's work and the season in general".
In the 2001 Benson & Hedges Masters he beated Matthew Stevens in the first round and next Peter Ebdon and in the semi final Stephen Hendry 6-4 that got him to the final. There he met Fergal O' Brian. In the first session he was 2-6 behind, he was thinking about "Plan A" (a visit to the practice table) or "Plan B", a quick trip to his hotel 'relaxing' in the company of his fiancee, Lindsay. " As everyone now knows, thanks to the tabloids, I opted for "Plan B" and I still reckon it's the best way to relax because it certainly takes your mind off the game. I came back and played some awesome snooker - four centuries in six frames!" Indeed in the next session he had an amazing comeback and won seven of the last nine frames, scored 10-9 and won the trophy! He collected Ł175,000 and additionally he also picked up a half share of the high break bonus of Ł20,000 when he equalled Jimmy White’s 136 highest break. "I had a lot of support out there and I wanted to win for all those who were behind me, they were fantastic. To beat Stephen at Wembley has to be the best result I have ever achieved." said Paul.
In the Regal Scottish Open he won his first round 5-3 over Ryan Day and to beat David McDonnell next having a comfortable 3-0 lead and winning 5-2. He achieved the same result against Joe Swail and Paul commented: "I am enjoying the game and playing better because of it. I feel like I'm striking the ball well and cueing well and that gives you confidence. Playing Joe is always tough as he is an experienced match player and highly talented. I will need to play well to get through." But he lost then again to worlds No. 7 Ken Doherty 6-3.
At the end of the season he entered the World Championships as the youngest player in that tournament with 22 years. He won the first round against David Roe with an impressive result of 10-6 and threw in 3 century breaks. David Roe commented: "Paul is certainly one of the players who can win it, without a doubt. I can remember when I used to be that relaxed at his age. He just strolls around as though it's a practice match. There are only two or three players who can stop him if he plays like that." In the second round Paul lost to Stephen Hendry 13-5. "I’ve had a great season and I’m learning all the time. Stephen knows that I’m a threat to him but he’s the seven-times World Champion and he played very well", said Paul. Paul could move up in the World Rankings to No. 9.
Unfortunately the next season 2001/2002 didn't turn out that well, he only ended up in 1st-2nd round. He was in 3rd round of the LG Cup then beaten by Peter Ebdon 5-4. Ebdon fluked a red into the top right-hand pocket in the early stages of the ninth and deciding frame and went on to make a match-winning break of 75. Paul said: "I missed an easy blue into the centre pocket in the final frame but it was the fluke that cost me the match. If it had happened to me, I would have taken it. That’s snooker."
 After also taking a defeat in the first rounds of the UK Championships Paul could win the Regal Welsh 2002, he could barely stop smiling after taking the second ranking title of his career to win over Ken Doherty in the final. During the match Paul won five frames in a row and was 5-1 ahead, dropping in one of his highest breaks of 141. Then Paul was only 7-6 leading but could then take home his victory with 9-7. "I could have won 9-2 because I had plenty of chances but Ken is such a gritty player that he came back at me," said Paul. "When he came back to 8-7 I knew I’d have to win it in the next frame to stop him and it’s a fantastic feeling to have done that. I was excellent at times among the balls but I always knew it would be tough against Ken. It was fantastic, I enjoyed every minute of it" said Paul and collected a cheque for Ł82,500 and picked up the Regal Welsh trophy for the second time. "There was a bit of extra motivation for me because Ken beat me so easily in the final last year and I didn’t want a repeat of that. I just went out and concentrated on my own game and tried to play the same way that I did against Graeme Dott in the semi-finals."
Then he was up to defend his Masters title. In his first round he beated Stephen Lee 6-3 with high breaks of 101, 69 and 66. In the quarter final Paul was leading 3-1, then Peter Ebdon could come back leading 5-4 but Paul recovered to win 6-5. "I knew it would be a long match and that Peter would come back. I had to stick in there and I’m really pleased with my break in the deciding frame. I played well to get in the balls but I knew that Peter would make it tight." In the semi final he was leading 2-1 until Alan McManus was fighting back 4-2 but Paul won 6-4 afterall. "I’m playing well at the moment but you just have to take it a shot at a time. It wasn’t the best snooker in the world against Alan but when it goes scrappy you get your head down and take what you can get."
He experienced the same situation in the final as in the in 2001 and he admitted that he stuck to the same routine which won him the final last year as he put his famous ‘Plan B’ into action after losing the first session, as he was battled from 5-0 down against Mark Williams but then a breaks of 69, 61, 57 and 84 made him lead 8-7, then it was 9-9 to go in the final frame wich Paul could decide for himself and win the trophy a second time in successive years. He proved again that he is never beaten, he has proved that he has the steel nerve required to win tournaments at the highest level. "I’m so happy to have won the match – especially to retain the title. Only Stephen Hendry and Cliff Thorburn have won it in successive years – so I’m up there with them. Mark was favourite before the match and I was struggling at 5-0 down. The balls just weren’t running for me. I really needed to win the last three frames of the first session – that left me with a chance. Some people have said that I had an easy draw but there are no easy games here as they are all top-16 players. My dad says I need to go to the gym more but I’ve proved that I have a bit of stamina and hopefully I can go on to win the World Championship. I really believe in myself now – I am competing with the best in the world and beating them.”
But he couldn't hold the winning streak for the World Championships he lost in the first round very closly though to Quinten Hann 10-9.
 The season 2002/2003 went much better as he reached at three events the quarter finals and then to rise at the British Open to the win!
He beated in the last 16 Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-4,"I started off the underdog so didn't feel as much pressure as I might have," said Paul, "Most of the crowd were on his side and if you can't get yourself up for playing Ronnie you shouldn't be out there."
He captured the third ranking title of his career when he defeated Ian McCulloch 9-4. His victory moves him inside the top eight in the world rankings for the first time.
But then he couldn't defent his Masters title and was out in the semi final as well as the Regal Welsh title where he was beaten at both to Mark Williams 6-3 and 6-2.
Also at the World Championships he was in the semi final again until he was beaten again by Ken Doherty. Most disapointing must it have been for Paul since he was leading 15-9 and almost won but afterall he was beaten very closely17-16. That defeat took some getting over, that was the most hurt I have ever felt in my life over a snooker match and I did not touch my cue for a few months after, but I have been practising hard recently and I can feel my game coming together nicely," he said.
 At the beginning of season 2003/2004 at the LG Cup he was only able to reach the last 16 when Cris Small beated him 5-3. But that Paul showed up with a new hairstyle was even worth a story, Paul explained: “It started when I was on holiday in Crete in the summer. My hair was in my eyes when I was in the sea so I asked Lyndsey (his fiancée) to pin it back for me. It takes her 20 minutes to do but over the summer I had it in plaits and looked like a Rastafarian. I had about 40 plaits and that took a bit longer to style. I supposed it is like David Beckham’s but his is a bit longer than mine – I want mine longer. If it is good enough for him it is good enough for me. I will probably have it like this for the British Open next month but for the UK Championship I might try something a bit different.”
But then the season went better as he reached the quarter finals of the next 3 ranking events as he was up to winning prestitious Masters in the probably most exciting match ever, he was called the the "Comback King" as he was 7-2 down against Ronnie O' Sullivan in the first session and stormed back another time to triumph in another final session thriller he showed nerves of steel in a match he never lead until the final ball was potted. He made five centuries along the way. “I’ve done it before but no disrespect to Fergal O’Brien, to do it against Ronnie is unbelievable. It wasn’t as though I played badly during the first session – I made two centuries." I have always been a good break-builder but my safety play has improved over the years. It had to. If you let Ronnie off the hook he’s going to punish you and that’s what happened this afternoon.” Paul's fiancée Lyndsey Fell was, as usual, by his side and he quipped: “Of course, it was all down to Plan B again!" “I remember watching the Masters on television as a kid,” he said. “The first time I played here as a wild-card, I could hardly hold the cue. I knew then that I really wanted to win this tournament because there’s such a great atmosphere at Wembley, it’s such a great venue.”
Ronnie O' Sullivan commented: “Paul came out with all guns blazing tonight, made some good breaks and was hard to beat. That’s why he’s such a great player. He plays well, he’s a tough competitor. That’s why he has now won the Masters three times.”
He becomes only the fourth player, after Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Cliff Thorburn, to win the Masters on three or more occasions.
 Again he could not make his dream come true at the World Championship as he was beaten in the second round by Matthew Stevens in a very close match 13-12. Nevertheless it proves though he is not easily beaten. Now he has a main goal: "But I'm now desperate to be world champion. I will be world champion one day. Can you imagine how Jimmy White feels never having won it? He was my hero as a kid but I don't want that to happen to me."
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