Early boost for Hunter foundation

A new charity to introduce disabled and underprivileged children to snooker has been established by Lindsey Hunter, the wife of Paul Hunter who lost his battle with cancer last month.

And the Hunter Foundation is set to receive an early boost after news that China’s Ding Junhui has withdrawn from next month’s semi-finals of the Betfred Premier League.

The UK champion is one of only two players to have already qualified for the knockout stages in Manchester.

But he has been ordered to represent his country at the forthcoming Asian Games in Doha rather than take his place in the last four at the Wythenshawe Forum.

His absence leaves the way open for the fifth-placed player after the round robin stages to qualify and it has been agreed by players and promoters that half of the money won by the substitute semi-finalist will go to the Hunter Foundation.

Ding, who has been cleared to defend his UK crown in York next month, has also agreed to make an undisclosed donation to the Hunter Foundation.