Stephen Lee (snooker player)
Stephen Lee at the 2011 Paul Hunter Classic
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| Born |
12 October 1974 Trowbridge, Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Sport country |
 England
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| Professional | 1992–2014 |
| Highest ranking | 5 (2000/2001, 2003/04) |
| Career winnings | £2,062,352 |
| Highest break | 145 (2008 Northern Ireland Trophy) |
| Century breaks | 176 |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 5 |
| Minor-ranking | 2 |
| Non-ranking | 3 |
Stephen Lee (born 12 October 1974) is an English former professional snooker player. He turned professional in 1992 and was ranked in the top 16 between the 1997/1998 and 2007/2008 snooker seasons, reaching a career-high of fifth in the rankings. He won four ranking titles between 1998 and 2006, reached the semi-finals of the 2003 world championship and the final of the 2008 Masters. Thereafter, his form declined dramatically and as a result he dropped out of the top 16 after a run of eleven consecutive seasons, meaning he would no longer automatically qualify for tournaments. A return to form in the 2011/2012 season saw Lee reach two consecutive finals in ranking tournaments and collect his fifth title, as well as regaining his top 16 seeding. Lee was a heavy break-builder compiling 176 competitive century breaks during his career, and his smooth cue action is regarded by some pundits as the most natural the game has seen.
Lee's playing career came to a premature end when he was suspended from WSA competition on 12 October 2012 on match-fixing charges. He was found guilty by an independent tribunal in September 2013 of influencing the outcome of seven matches in 2008 and 2009. He received a twelve-year ban backdated to the start of his suspension and which will run until 12 October 2024.
Stephen Lee turned professional after winning the English Amateur Championship in 1992. During his first season as a professional he had a run of 33 successive frames won during qualifying matches, an all-time professional record. He reached the Top 16 of the rankings five years later, despite never having reached the semi-finals of a ranking event at this point. He entered the Top 8 after winning his first ranking title during the 1998/1999 season.
His first ranking victory came at the Grand Prix, in 1998 defeating Dave Harold 6–4 in a hard-fought semi-final that saw Lee come from 3–0 and 4–1 down, before beating newcomer Marco Fu convincingly in the final, 9–2) and 2001. His first ranking title and first two ranking semi-finals were all achieved without beating a top-16 player. After a failed drugs test in 2000 briefly upset his momentum, he scored more ranking points than any other player in the 2001/2002 season (winning the Scottish Open as well as the Grand Prix), thus briefly making him the provisional world No. 1 early in the following season. Lee was favourite to win the 2001 Masters, but lost 5–6 in the first round to John Parrott. He was part of the England team which won the 2001 Nations Cup. His best run in the World Championship came in the 2003 event when he reached the semi-finals.
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