Prompted by a tactful query from the ever-professional Hazel Irvine, Ronnie O’Sullivan paid a heartfelt and beneficiant tribute to Paul Hunter on Sunday night time after successful his report seventh Masters title.
There might be one thing extra substantial on right here later at the moment concerning the Rocket’s achievement, however I might similar to to dwell for a second on the Leeds man who died simply over 10 years in the past now on the tragically younger age of simply 27 – and his courageous mother and father Alan and Krystina.
The re-naming of the trophy in Paul’s honour was a becoming and overdue gesture from World Snooker, and credit score to chairman Barry Hearn and others concerned for realising it.
The primary time the trophy was offered after final April’s choice was all the time going to be an emotional event, and extra so as soon as it was determined that Paul’s father Alan would current it.
His mother and father are two those that have achieved their grieving primarily in non-public away from the general public gaze, and solely those that have suffered the identical horrible loss may presumably think about what it should be wish to lose a treasured baby in such circumstances.
World Snooker, the BBC, Eurosport and the written media did the whole lot they might to pay the proper respect with the proper tone to Paul, not just for his achievements within the event with three thrilling wins, however as a person.
However regardless of how a lot care was taken, and regardless of how a lot these efforts had been appreciated by Paul’s household, there should have been features of the night that had been one thing of an ordeal for them with recollections of their beloved son flooding again.
I had a really temporary phrase with Alan within the after-final celebration earlier than heading house. He had proven such dignity all night time, and admitted that the night had been tough at occasions for each of them.
All you might actually say was that hopefully he had discovered the night a becoming tribute for his standard son, and say as soon as once more how a lot he was missed by the snooker neighborhood in addition to his household and associates.
You may solely converse finest from your personal experiences and I believe each colleague would agree that Hunter was a pleasure to interview, and introduced a box-office glamour to the sport unmatched by any participant aside from O’Sullivan lately.
It confirmed monumental braveness from the Hunter household collaborating within the proceedings final night time, I’m certain handing over the trophy to a participant that had plenty of time for Paul and was at his funeral meant one thing, and if O’Sullivan took the event honours then for me Paul’s mother and father weren’t far behind.
