John Parrot, a former world champion and now a BBC commentator, said it was “a great loss to the sport”.

And seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry said he was devastated by the news.

Hunter was diagnosed with dozens of neuro endocrine tumours of the lining of his stomach in March 2005.

Despite chemotherapy treatment, Hunter continued to compete professionally but won only one match last season and fell from fifth to 34th in the rankings.

He was taken into the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield last Friday.

Thorne told Sky Sports: “He won three masters. Anyone who did that is a great player. Paul Hunter was a great player. I’m sure he would have been a future world champion. It’s a sad loss to the game and his family.

“Deep down we all thought he would beat the disease. He was taken into the hospice and it has been a very sad couple of days for me.

“He had a heart like a lion, he battled till the end. You never knew when Paul was beaten. He will be sadly, sadly missed. He lit up the stage when he played. He was a very flamboyant player.”

Hunter turned professional at the age of 16 in 1995 and won his first major title, the 1998 Welsh Open, at the age of 19.

He also won the Welsh title in 2002 and picked up the British Open trophy the same year but he will be best remembered for his exploits at the Wembley Masters.

Hunter recovered from 7-3 down to beat Fergal O’Brien 10-9 in the 2001 final and fought from 5-0 adrift to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final a year later.

He completed a hat-trick of Masters victories in 2004 when he came from 7-2 down to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-9.

Hunter’s best World Championship performance was reaching the semi-finals in 2003, where he led Ken Doherty 15-9 before the Irishman stormed back to win 17-16.

In a statement on its website, World Snooker, the commercial arm of the sport’s governing body, said Hunter died at 8.20pm last night.

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

World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: “I’m sure that everyone who met Paul, as well as his millions of fans and the sporting public as a whole, will join me in sending most sincere sympathies to Lindsey, Paul’s parents, his family and friends.

“Paul was a man who had everything going for him – an outstanding talent, good looks, fame, riches, charm and a beautiful wife. This shows us just how quickly life can change.

“It’s a bitter blow for snooker but most importantly for his family and our thoughts are with them.”

Hendry said: “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.”

Parrott, the 1991 world champion and a member of the BBC TV snooker team, said: “It’s a great loss to the sport but more importantly than that, it’s a great loss to his family.

“Paul played the game with a smile on his face. He was a bright and bubbly character and I never heard him complain. He was always such a happy person. We’re all going to miss him.”

Hunter’s highest ranking was fourth in the 2004/05 season and his highest break was 146, compiled in the 2004 Premier League.

A Premier League spokesman confirmed there would be a minute’s silence before this week’s matches in Preston on Thursday.

A minute’s silence will also be observed before matches at the Irish Snooker Championships today.