Sang Lee (이상화, 1955-2004) was a Korean-born three-cushion master who emigrated to the USA and became one of the most influential players bridging Korean and American carom communities.
Career highlights
- USA Three-Cushion National Champion (multiple times in the 1990s)
- UMB World Cup tournament finalist
- One of the first Korean masters to dominate non-Asian tournaments
- Founded Sang Lee International Open (annual NYC tournament)
Playing style
Sang Lee was renowned for his reverse english bricoles and surgical precision. Where other pros relied heavily on Diamond System math, Sang Lee blended system with deep intuition built from his Korean training. Watch his matches and you'll see him 'feel' the cushion behavior in ways most players couldn't articulate.
Signature shots
- Reverse english long-rail bricole
- Half-ball reference patterns
- Defensive 'safety' shots that left opponents trapped
Legacy
Sang Lee passed away from cancer in 2004 at age 49. His legacy lives on through:
- Sang Lee International Open — annual New York three-cushion tournament
- The Korean three-cushion community he helped popularize globally
- Modern PBA Pro Tour stars (Cho Jae-Ho, Kang Dong-Koong) who studied his game
Practice Sang Lee's signature shot
Open the reverse-english bricole position in 3ball — the same shot Sang Lee mastered.
Open in 3ball →