Snooker star Paul Hunter has died aged 27 after a battle with cancer.

The Leeds player was taken into the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield last Friday and died on Monday evening.

The three-time Masters champion was diagnosed with dozens of neuro endocrine tumours on the lining of his stomach in March 2005.

Hunter would have been 28 on Saturday. He leaves a wife, Lindsey, and a daughter, Evie Rose, who was born on Boxing Day of last year.

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Former world champion John Parrott was among the first to pay tribute.

"Paul certainly brought a touch of glamour to the game - they called him 'the Beckham of the baize'," Parrott told BBC Five Live.

"And his performances at Wembley were fantastic. To win three titles was tremendous.

"He was a happy-go-lucky man, always played with a smile on his face and never had a bad word to say about anyone."

Stephen Hendry, the seven-times world champion, added: "I'm absolutely devastated by the news.

"He's got a young family and he had a fantastic future in front of him. It's everyone's worst nightmare and puts everything into perspective."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6035879.stm

I thought he'd get through it, but sadly he didn't. 27 years old, not long married, new kid, world championship ahead of him.... it's devastating.

RIP Paul