Sang Lee

Sang Lee was born and raised in South Korea, where he started playing billiards at the age of 14. He became a professional player at 18 and won eight Korean national titles before moving to the United States in 1987. He quickly dominated the American scene, winning 12 USBA National Three-Cushion Championship titles in a row from 1990 to 2001. He also achieved international success, winning the UMB World Three-cushion Championship in 1993 and the World Games gold medal in 2001. He was ranked number 11 among the Billiards Digest “50 Greatest Players of the Century” and number 5 “Greatest Living Player of the Century” in 1999. He was known for his elegant style, precise technique, and creative shots. He was also a generous mentor and promoter of the sport, co-owning a billiard hall in Flushing, Queens, New York, where he trained many young players and hosted the Sang Lee International Open, a prestigious tournament that attracted the world’s best players. He was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2007. He died of stomach cancer in 2004 at the age of 50.