Classic Decider | 2004 Masters Final | Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Paul Hunter

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[@richardwilliams170]

Rip Paul. What a player he was.

[@matthiasvandekerkhove3594]

He was only 25 years old when he passed away...

[@richardwilliams170]

@@matthiasvandekerkhove3594 1 day younger than me. He was born 14-10-1978.

[@matthiasvandekerkhove3594]

@@richardwilliams170 I was a little mistaken. He was 27 or 28 years when he passed away. Still way too young though.

[@daimobile617]

ຢ . ພ

[@steventhompson2511]

@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 👍

[@sharpvidtube]

Great to watch this again. I wish Paul and Ronnie could of had many more finals.

[@heliumtrophy]

I have to agree. I couldn't watch snooker for a while after he passed away. It just didn't feel right (as silly as that sounds).

[@Tazz-7375]

@@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.

[@slm0n]

What a frame! Paul Hunter will never be forgotten. A very nice guy and a great player.

[@oliverbingham9742]

I remember watching all of his masters comebacks. An absolute gent and an unbelievable snooker player.. Never take life for granted.. RIP legend

[@freespirit4706]

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! ❤️

[@vxrdrummer]

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.

[@dot2562]

Loss to us all,bit boring snooker nowadays, reckon paul would of been dominate nowadays

[@david-sn1yl]

You can't mention a self-serving cunt like Beckham in the same breath as Hunter, there's no comparison, at all.

[@sltga1254]

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.

[@ninosalvati379]

Truly one of only a few players Ronnie truly respected and had admiration for... brilliant tournament and what a final...an absolute classic 😊

[@TheIkaraCult]

Great memories. Paul will never be forgotten

[@Ned-ke3ui]

RIP Paul A fantastic player who sadly left us way too soon👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@xlevi51]

Remembering Paul Hunter on this day! What joy you gave us! Taken far too early. Never forgotten, thank you Paul!

[@abbashaider9252]

Hunter is a Champion material. Rip fella 😢

[@thelasttime4994]

Had the pleasure of playing Paul when he was 15. He had so much bottle and was so talented. He would have been a multiple world champion by now. 😢

[@rajeshpatil2028]

RIP Paul. You will be always remembered whenever I watch snooker.

[@bunny.thebest9103]

He was so good under the pressure such a great talent gone too early RIP Paul ❤

[@MrGloryglorymanutd18]

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.

[@louiem2]

RIP Paul. Thanks for the years of entertainment and the legacy you left. Gone way too early, but never forgotten

[@andymcnab2.0]

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" 🌹❤🌹

[@VoiceOfThe]

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.

[@danialruzamal]

Nothing to do while being quarantine at home. I guess I’ll watch this again. What a good match

[@hawk23100]

Well u should u be privileged to watch Paul Hunter a genius and a gentleman so watch ur mouth

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@hawk23100 no need for that insult is there ? He said nothing wrong. We all expect to be treated as we treat others.

[@xcruciator2269]

The best ones are taken early from us. Rip champ! Always in our hearts.

[@PhilipKerry]

@Storm Woods Trying to be a heartless troll ..... and succeeding .....

[@declanoshaughnessy7733]

Rest in peace Paul Hunter an absolute legend always remembered never forgotten one brillant snooker payer

[@adamoksiuta4715]

This was the first snooker match which I've ever seen live. Since then my favourite player is Ronnie :P

[@MusikPiratCH]

This final I still remember. However my favorite player is Paul Hunter RIP! 😍

[@christschinwon]

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

[@pedrorocha1913]

That Sunday Night 8th February 2004...Magic...RIP Paul

[@johnbrett8788]

Nearly twenty years hard to believe. RIP Paul you were a legend.

[@martinahermann9525]

I saw it live on TV back then... It was a pleasure and will always be. ❤️🙏

[@ac130kz]

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...

[@ahmedshakib3883]

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.

[@StraitKnopfler]

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.

[@jezzaus2124]

RIP Paul RIP Willie

[@chunkylafangaa]

I remember this clearly when I used to play at northern snooker in Leeds. Greeted by a legend from Bradford. RIP Paul

[@TerraRubicon]

I remember the news when Paul Hunter passed away and I was like ****! Such a gifted player. I will always remember him.

[@AdhamMGhaly]

Definitely was going to be one of the greatest players ever. RIP Paul.

[@thewebdesignguys]

Ronnie looks small with paul in the frame, what a star, what a charisma he had, what a game, absolutely fantastic, thanks again for this video!

[@dilksjoel]

Very hard to watch. This was snooker in its glamorous peak. The game was all the better for Paul Hunter. Thanks Paul.

[@paulriggall8370]

It was nice of Neil Foulds to mention Paul in a recent discussion about the best player ever.

[@lukekelly9616]

Still get a lump in my throat watching Paul play. RIP

[@thefruityshowbyscatts134]

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❤❤❤

[@tomlardner2708]

Great match two great players, would have been world champion had he lived rip Paul hunter god bless.

[@zenobios_]

R.I.P. Paul 20 years has gone fast.

[@johnbrett8788]

Life is just cruel. Paul was a great player, father, son and a great friend. RIP Paul you are missed loads.

[@roxoriginal732]

Gone but never forgotten What a player Paul hunter 😇

[@PinkNinjaKick]

It’s so crazy Xbox at one time sponsored the masters. I hope to see again that level of sponsorship. Snooker deserves it.

[@terra2805]

Such a great player, just starting to reap the rewards of his chosen profession. Such a sad loss. R.I.P. Paul.

[@syedsahil7936]

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❤.

[@underneonloneliness2]

Paul Hunter would still be playing strong if he was around today.

[@rytkosenjussi]

Two of the one of the greatest players ever. Rip Paul 🕊

[@donaldjohnson2038]

Can you imagine the battles that Ronnie and Paul would have had? wow!

[@danw1374]

What a brilliant player and a smashing lad, gone way too soon RIP Paul

[@ameyrajadhyax8743]

RIP. Amazing legendary player

[@uklawyer23]

Great player, great charisma - a world champ he would have been

[@creed87]

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

[@heliumtrophy]

"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.

[@antelarsson217]

O Sullivan looks great in that hair

[@gimmick2509]

they both do. like two rockstars playing snooker (and in some sense they actually are)

[@cddb5408]

@gimmick2509 And Paul joined the 27 club.

[@syedbilal9100]

Love you Paul missed you so much💔 RIP legend

[@jordanturner7917]

Ronnie actually looked accepting of the loss. Respect.

[@5thdawg917]

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.

[@MrGloryglorymanutd18]

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.

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

Thanks - any chance of the rest of the match in this quality ?

[@HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks]

Such fantastic stuff. You're missed Paul.

[@jimmorrison1685]

Paul hunter was a gentleman and a talented player. Rip

[@Sambukerable]

What a player he was.......amazing

[@denniskrottje012]

Great to see this back!

[@PrivateEye121]

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🙏❤

[@hamzakhalid5675]

Awesome effort by both players.

[@jordanturner7917]

This should have been a lifelong rivalry

[@notanumber1311]

With all due respect, it was.

[@mr.hanafigitu2858]

my last hug with him..RIP uncle H

[@genghisk4808]

Watched a lot of snooker of YT and have only played a handful of times (more into bank pool/one pocket) but this was a great match by a young player.

[@dot2562]

Missed, i reckon hed be domatiing if he was still around, only starting to appreciate him now😢😢😢

[@xeniachimera3054]

Мы помним тебя Пол Хантер!

[@rmkw4291]

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.

[@jamesmccluskey5756]

Gone way too soon, Paul was a world champion in the making

[@philhewitt73]

Heart breaking when you watch Paul because of how young he was✌

[@chrischan068]

RIP Paul

[@yannick9473]

Ronnie is had some nightmare finals in this masters tournament in the past, 6-2 up against Davis 1997, and 6-1 up v Paul hunter 2004. RIP Paul hunter.

[@sanyasyniushkevych1868]

True genious of the game kicked ass of "the greatest". What a great performance!

[@eddyedwards120]

I wish he was still with us, the snooker landscape would be very different in my opinion and the question of who is the goat would be up for debate.

[@Dan-pw3kb]

Wish I'd got into snooker younger, was only 24 here and had no interest, now 44 and love it!

[@jamesporter109]

God Bless you Paul, may you rest in Peace.

[@yogitheroadrollers5075]

RIP Legend.....❤

[@sharjeelafzalminhas4849]

You will be remembered always champ

[@thadtuiol1717]

I still can't believe Paul's not with us anymore... no justice in this sad vale of tears

[@b.c.f.9471]

R.I.P PAUL HUNTER THE BEST 🙏

[@JC-gg8xn]

What an amazing player, rip Mr hunter 😢

[@MANdalorian79]

Now they got a tournament under his name.... 👍💪Good player

[@CasperLD]

Ah... so sad he left us so soon. What a phenomenal player.

[@konvictz0007]

He made 5 centuries in this match according to the stats, incredible.

[@DJdefcon4]

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.

[@kennywilkinson913]

His run at the masters was really quite incredible, probably something which will we never see again. Certainly not in the manner he won.

[@jamiew1664]

Miss you paul. x

[@richardmiller3839]

Rip Paul. Very sad. To young.

[@one2322]

17 years ago ! RIP Paul 😢

[@dydy5905]

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN 🔥💥 PAUL HUNTER 🔥💥 SO AMAZING FROM MALAYSIAN ❤

[@joehirst4347]

RIP brother fellow Yorkshire man

[@tashidelek9302]

Ronnie : “the greatest player I’ve ever faced was Paul “

[@lukahj]

Tbh he has said the same about Hendry and John, so he's not consistent

[@JinxTheCat_plays]

And he said the player he has the most respect for is Domonic Dale

[@micheleauriemma9513]

Rip Paul, snooker lost a great champion, a great talent, life's cruel!

[@cddb5408]

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.

[@underneonloneliness2]

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.

[@DaviBarbosadecarvalho-ib8wb]

Rip.Paul Hunter was a fantastic player!

[@sheikhlucky6017]

Very sad how he died such in a young age hunter will be missed forvever

[@umairzafarofficial]

Awesome. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@NetPwn]

RIP Mr Hunter , what a talent.

[@umaizakhan58]

Miss u Paul !!!!! I love 4ever

[@celsomorais8215]

So de ganhar do campeão do mundo já e uma honra