Sang Chun Lee (Korean: 이상천; January 15, 1954 – October 19, 2004), most commonly known simply as Sang Lee, was a Korean-born American professional three-cushion billiards player and world champion.
Born and raised in South Korea, Lee moved to New York City, United States, in 1987, at age 33.
Dubbed the "Michael Jordan of three-cushion billiards"[1] at the time of his arrival in the United States, Lee already had eight Korean national titles under his belt. Lee promptly went on to dominate three cushion billiards in the US, winning a record twelve consecutive USBA National Three-Cushion Championship, from 1990 to 2001.
in 1999 he was ranked number 11 among the Billiards Digest "50 Greatest Players of the Century" and ranked 5th "Greatest Living Player of the Century"
At the 2002 USBA National Three-Cushion Championship, his impressive run came to an end when he was defeated by Pedro Piedrabuena in the finals. Aptly, Piedrabuena received his early training in billiards from none other than Lee. The same year, Lee finished 2nd in Three-cushion event of the Asian Games where he was bested by Deuk-Hee Hwang, another Korean cue artist.
As a player, Lee's ambition was "making billiards beautiful in America",[2] – restoring the recognition and competitive level of three-cushion in that part of the world – but he did not live to fulfill it, as he died in 2004 due to stomach cancer.
Each year after Lee's death, a tournament featuring many of the world's best three-cushion players, known as the Sang Lee International Open, has been hosted at Carom Café in Flushing, Queens, New York, the billiard hall Lee was a co-owner of at the time of his death.[4] 2012 it has been renamed to Verhoeven Open.
Referencesedit
^"Ideas & Trends; They're Sort of Like Mike", by Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times (online edition), January 17, 1999. Accessed December 30, 2006.
^"Billiards' Best Spin Doctors Vie in a Three-Cushion Zone" June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine by Corey Kilgannon, New York Times (online edition), August 18, 2006. Accessed December 30, 2006.
sang, sang, chun, korean, 이상천, january, 1954, october, 2004, most, commonly, known, simply, korean, born, american, professional, three, cushion, billiards, player, world, champion, medal, recordmen, three, cushion, billiardsrepresenting, united, statesumb, wo. Sang Chun Lee Korean 이상천 January 15 1954 October 19 2004 most commonly known simply as Sang Lee was a Korean born American professional three cushion billiards player and world champion Sang Lee Medal recordMen s three cushion billiardsRepresenting the United StatesUMB World Championship1993 Gent Three cushionUSBA National Championship1990 Three cushion1991 Three cushion1992 Three cushion1993 Three cushion1994 Three cushion1995 Three cushion1996 Three cushion1997 Three cushion1998 Three cushion1999 Three cushion2000 Three cushion2001 Three cushionWorld Games2001 Akita IndividualAsian Games2002 Busan Individual Contents 1 Professional career 2 Sang Lee International Open 3 References 4 External linksProfessional career editBorn and raised in South Korea Lee moved to New York City United States in 1987 at age 33 Dubbed the Michael Jordan of three cushion billiards 1 at the time of his arrival in the United States Lee already had eight Korean national titles under his belt Lee promptly went on to dominate three cushion billiards in the US winning a record twelve consecutive USBA National Three Cushion Championship from 1990 to 2001 Lee became the UMB World Three cushion Championship in 1993 in 1999 he was ranked number 11 among the Billiards Digest 50 Greatest Players of the Century and ranked 5th Greatest Living Player of the Century At the 2002 USBA National Three Cushion Championship his impressive run came to an end when he was defeated by Pedro Piedrabuena in the finals Aptly Piedrabuena received his early training in billiards from none other than Lee The same year Lee finished 2nd in Three cushion event of the Asian Games where he was bested by Deuk Hee Hwang another Korean cue artist As a player Lee s ambition was making billiards beautiful in America 2 restoring the recognition and competitive level of three cushion in that part of the world but he did not live to fulfill it as he died in 2004 due to stomach cancer On May 15 2007 Lee was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame 3 Sang Lee International Open editEach year after Lee s death a tournament featuring many of the world s best three cushion players known as the Sang Lee International Open has been hosted at Carom Cafe in Flushing Queens New York the billiard hall Lee was a co owner of at the time of his death 4 2012 it has been renamed to Verhoeven Open References edit Ideas amp Trends They re Sort of Like Mike by Caitlin Lovinger New York Times online edition January 17 1999 Accessed December 30 2006 Carom Tournament Press permanent dead link BCA Hall of Fame 2007 51st Inductee Sang Chun Lee Archived February 2 2007 at the Wayback Machine Billiard Congress of America Colorado Springs Colorado United States accessed March 2 2007 Billiards Best Spin Doctors Vie in a Three Cushion Zone Archived June 9 2012 at the Wayback Machine by Corey Kilgannon New York Times online edition August 18 2006 Accessed December 30 2006 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sang Lee 2002 USBA Championship results Sang Lee International Tournament Official Site Photos from Sang Lee International Open 2008 Carom Cafe Online Billiard Resource Preceded byCarlos Hallon USBA National Three cushion Champion1990 2001 Succeeded byPedro Piedrabuena Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sang Lee amp oldid 1214313432, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
