Rocket stunned by Hunter's health problems
Ronnie O’Sullivan has offered his support to Paul Hunter after the world number four’s cancer diagnosis.
O’Sullivan was shocked by the news Hunter is receiving treatment for colon cancer, which meant the 26-year-old Yorkshireman decided against competing in the Premier League Snooker event tonight in Ipswich.
Speaking after his 5-1 win over Mark Williams in Ipswich, in which O’Sullivan rattled in a 132 break, he said of Hunter’s condition: “Please God he’ll get through it – I couldn’t speak for two hours when I heard the news. It’s terrible but everyone in snooker and all his friends will support him.”
Hunter still intends to compete at the Embassy World Championship starting in Sheffield on April 16.
In his absence, Williams stood in tonight and played two matches rather than the usual one, and lost both by a 5-1 margin.
Like O’Sullivan, Marco Fu inflicted a heavy defeat on the two-time former world champion, finishing with a 133 break.
O’Sullivan displaced Williams at the top of the Premier League rankings, with Fu climbing to second as both players made sure of their place in the four-man knock-out stages.
Welshman Williams had already sealed his semi-final place.
