Ronnie extended his lead again upon resumption, but then came another stirring fightback. Breaks of 102, 109 and 110 took Hunter's tally of centuries in the tournament to six this time - again, nobody else managed as many as three - and he was champion once more.
And that is how Paul Hunter will be remembered by those who witnessed three of the greatest comebacks in the history of this tournament, which came over a dizzying four-year spell of outright sexiness, on and off the table.
Honest, charming, fiercely competitive and with the world at his feet, Hunter was everything snooker needed. And then, so cruelly, he was no longer here. In October 2006, Hunter died of cancer, leaving behind a wife and a daughter, and a hole in his sport.
Eventually, World Snooker came to name this trophy in his honour, and well they should have.
There have been spells of greater dominance in The Masters - Hendry won the title every year for half a decade, seldom coming under significant pressure - but the finest comebacks all belong to one man, who so desperately wanted to become world champion one day.
Surely, Paul Hunter would have gone on to achieve all that he dreamed of. He is sorely missed.