Stephen Lee (snooker player)

{{Infobox snooker player

| name = Stephen Lee

| image = Stephen Lee PHC 2012-2.jpg

| caption = Lee at the 2012 Paul Hunter Classic

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|10|12}}

| birth_place = Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England

| Sport country = {{ENG}}

| Professional = 1992–2014

| High ranking = 5 (2000/2001, 2003/04)

| Official maximums =

| Ranking wins = 5

| Minor wins = 2

| World champ =

}}

Stephen Lee (born 12 October 1974) is an English former professional snooker player. He turned professional in 1992, reached a career-high of fifth in the snooker world rankings for the 2000–01 season, and won five ranking titles. His best performances in Triple Crown events were reaching the semi-finals of the 2003 World Championship, where he lost to eventual champion Mark Williams, and reaching the final of the 2008 Masters, where he was runner-up to Mark Selby. He compiled 184 century breaks in professional competition and was noted for his smooth cue action.{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/PlayersAlphabeticalArticle/0,,13165~2234700,00.html |title=Official player profile of Stephen Lee |work=worldsnooker.com |at="Players Alphabetical" section |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323065537/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/PlayersAlphabeticalArticle/0,,13165~2234700,00.html |archive-date=23 March 2012}}

West Midlands police arrested Lee in February 2010 as part of an investigation into suspicious betting patterns at the 2009 UK Championship, but no further action was taken against him at that time. Following further reports of irregular betting patterns on a 2012 Premier League match between Lee and John Higgins on 11 October 2012, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) suspended Lee the next day and subsequently brought match-fixing charges against him. After an independent tribunal found Lee guilty of influencing the outcome of seven matches in 2008 and 2009, he was banned from competing in or attending any WPBSA-affiliated tournament for 12 years, backdated to the beginning of his suspension. This was the longest ban handed down in the sport until Liang Wenbo and Li Hang received lifetime bans in 2023. Lee appealed the decision, but was dismissed in May 2014, meaning that his ban remained in force until 12 October 2024, also the date of his 50th birthday. Lee was ordered to pay the WPBSA £125,000 in costs relating to his hearing and appeal, but has not yet done so.

Career

=Early career=

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.{{cite web| url=http://www.snooker.org/plr/Bio/slee.shtml | title=Stephen Lee | publisher=snooker.org | access-date=6 June 2008}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://prosnookerblog.com/players/i-l/stephen-lee/ |title=Stephen Lee |website=Pro Snooker Blog |access-date=19 November 2010 }} He entered the Top 8 after winning his first ranking title during the 1998–99 season.

=1998–2011=

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. 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,{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2993125/Snooker-Legal-twist-in-Lee-drugs-hearing.html | title=Snooker: Legal twist in Lee drugs hearing | newspaper= The Telegraph| access-date=15 November 2009| date=18 November 2000 | location=London | first=John | last=Dee}} he scored more ranking points than any other player in the 2001–02 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.

Due to a dip in form, at the 2006 Welsh Open he came to the competition outside the provisional Top 16 after failing to win a ranking tournament for four years. He went on to win the tournament, beating the then World Champion, Shaun Murphy, 9–4 in the final.

For 2007–08 he slipped to No. 13 in the rankings after reaching just one semi-final, partly due to missing the China Open for personal reasons.{{cite web| url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/news_latest-17765.htm | title=Lee pulls out of China trip | publisher=worldsnooker.com | date=4 March 2007 | access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080514121307/http://www.worldsnooker.com/news_latest-17765.htm |archive-date = 14 May 2008}} He nevertheless reached the final of the 2008 Masters, losing 3–10 to Mark Selby.{{cite news | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/sportsnews/topstories/2008/01/21/mark-selby-wins-masters-and-pockets-a-cheque-for-150-000-89520-20293487/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20090131113406/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/sportsnews/topstories/2008/01/21/mark-selby-wins-masters-and-pockets-a-cheque-for-150-000-89520-20293487/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 January 2009 | title=Mark Selby wins Masters and pockets a cheque for £150,000 | newspaper=Daily Mirror | date=21 January 2008 | access-date=6 June 2008 }} Following a heavy defeat by Joe Swail in the first round of the 2008 World Championship, confirming his drop out of the top 16 of the rankings, Lee considered retiring from the game.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7357853.stm | work=BBC Sport | title=Beaten Lee considers retirement | date=20 April 2008 | access-date=6 June 2008 | location=London}}

However, he did compete in the first ranking event of the 2008–09 season, the 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy, and after convincing wins over Judd Trump and Stephen Hendry, he reached the last 16, where despite making three century breaks he lost 4–5 to eventual runner-up Dave Harold. He then failed to qualify for the Shanghai Masters, losing 4–5 to Tom Ford. He reached the televised stages of the 2009 World Championship by defeating Judd Trump in qualifying, but was beaten 10–4 in the first round by Ryan Day.

On 11 February 2010 Lee was arrested by West Midlands Police on suspicion of cheating, in relation to an investigation by the Gambling Commission over suspicious betting patterns.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8512077.stm| work=BBC Sport | title=Snooker player Stephen Lee arrested in betting inquiry | date=12 February 2010| access-date=12 February 2010 | location=London}}

During the 2010–11 season Lee managed to regain some form including a win in Event 4 of the EPTC events. However, he drew John Higgins in the first round at both the 2010 UK Championship and World Championship, losing on both occasions with Higgins going on to eventually win both events. At the China Open he drew Mark Williams in the first round and despite Williams making four centuries he won 5–4, making a gutsy 61 clearance to the black in the decider. He went on to reach the quarter-finals, where he lost to Ding Junhui 5–2.{{cite web|title=China Open (2011)|url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=27|publisher=WWW Snooker|access-date=23 February 2011}} Lee won a non-ranking event in 2011 in the CCI Open Invitational he beat Jimmy White 10–7 in the final in Mumbai.

= Return to form =

Lee began the 2011–12 season ranked 18 and lost in qualifying for the Australian Goldfields Open and in the first round of the Shanghai Masters. However, he had an excellent run of form in the PTC Events by reaching the quarter-finals of Events 3 and 4 and going one better in Event 6, as he lost to Neil Robertson in the last 4. This meant that Lee returned to the top 16 in October, as he was ranked 13 and therefore gained automatic entry into the upcoming ranking events. He lost in the first round of the 2011 UK Championship and in the German Masters reached his first semi-final since the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy, but could not get past Ronnie O'Sullivan, who won 6–4.{{cite web | url=http://asia.eurosport.com/snooker/o-sullivan-continues-run_sto3138494/story.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207072353/http://asia.eurosport.com/snooker/o-sullivan-continues-run_sto3138494/story.shtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 February 2012 | title=O'Sullivan overcomes Stevens to reach semis | publisher=Eurosport | date=4 February 2012 | access-date=25 April 2012}} He then made it to the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open, where he was put off by a mobile phone ringing on his back-swing in a deciding frame against Ding Junhui and went on to lose the match.{{cite web | url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2615084,00.html | title=Ding Through As Lee Fumes About Phone | publisher=WPBSA | date=17 February 2012 | access-date=25 April 2012}} He used his frustration from the incident to good effect however, as he beat Dominic Dale, Neil Robertson, Graeme Dott and Robert Milkins to reach the final of the World Open, his first since the 2006 Welsh Open. He played Mark Allen, but was dominated throughout, as he lost the match 1–10.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17250516 | title=Mark Allen beats Stephen Lee 10–1 in World Open final | work=BBC Sport | date=4 March 2012 | access-date=25 April 2012}}

Lee enjoyed further success on the PTC calendar as he reached another semi-final, to finish 14th on the Order of Merit and therefore qualified for the last 24 of the Finals.{{cite web|url=http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=10&season=2011|title=Order of Merit|publisher=WWW Snooker|date=8 January 2012|access-date=31 March 2012}} It was in the finals where Lee won his first ranking title for six years as he dropped just three frames during the tournament, including 4–0 whitewashes over Mark Selby and in the final versus Robertson, where Lee became the first player to beat the Australian in a ranking event final.{{cite news |author= |title=World Snooker Championship 2012: Who will rule the Crucible? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/17720729 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=11 December 2019 }} Lee's form in the second half of the season continued into the China Open as he registered his third ranking event semi-final of the year by defeating Judd Trump again, but could not feature in three successive finals as he lost 2–6 to Stephen Maguire. His season did finish in disappointment though as he was beaten in the first round of the World Championship 6–10 by Andrew Higginson.{{cite news | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/other-sports/2012/04/25/widnes-snooker-star-andrew-higginson-beat-stephen-lee-to-set-up-second-round-clash-with-jamie-jones-in-the-betfred-com-world-championship-100252-30833196/ | title=Widnes snooker star Andrew Higginson beat Stephen Lee to set up second-round clash with Jamie Jones in the Betfred.com World Championship | newspaper=Liverpool Echo | date=25 April 2012 | access-date=25 April 2012}} Nevertheless, Lee climbed 10 places in the world rankings to end the season at number 8, the highest he has been since 2003.{{cite web | url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp | title=Ranking History | publisher=Snooker.org | access-date=23 May 2012}}

Match-fixing and ban

Lee was arrested and bailed on suspicion of match-fixing on 11 February 2010.{{cite news |title=Snooker player Stephen Lee bailed in betting inquiry |date=12 February 2010 |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8512077.stm |access-date=12 October 2012}} This followed a police investigation into suspicious betting patterns relating to a match played in 2009, believed to have taken place at the 2009 UK Championship.{{cite news |last=Hayes |first=Roy |title=Stephen Lee suspended from snooker over 'suspicious' betting patterns |date=12 October 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/9605688/Stephen-Lee-suspended-from-snooker-over-suspicious-betting-patterns.html |access-date=12 October 2012}} On 2 October 2012, the WPBSA released a statement confirming that the Crown Prosecution Service would not be taking further action against Lee over the claims.{{cite news |title=Stephen Lee suspended while WPBSA investigate allegations |date=12 October 2012 |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/19806221 |access-date=12 October 2012}} Nine days after the statement was issued, Lee was involved in another controversial match on 11 October which resulted in a 2–4 defeat by John Higgins at a Premier League fixture after Lee had been leading the match 2–1, which caused fellow professional Judd Trump to question the integrity of the result on Twitter, especially since Lee squandered a golden opportunity to level the match at 3 frames all.{{cite news |title=Stephen Lee 'devastated' by suspension over suspicious betting patterns |date=12 October 2012 |agency=Press Association |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/oct/12/stephen-lee-snooker-suspended-betting?newsfeed=true |access-date=12 October 2012}} The following day—on his 38th birthday—Lee was suspended by the WPBSA following reports by at least two bookmakers of irregular betting patterns connected to the Premier League match, pending a full inquiry. Lee appealed against the decision made by the Chairman of the WPBSA; Robert Englehart QC—appointed by Sport Resolutions UK to consider Lee's appeal against suspension—dismissed it, deciding the suspension should remain in place until either the conclusion of the investigation or any resultant hearings.{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement – Stephen Lee Appeal Dismissed|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2958763,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=25 October 2012}}

On 14 February 2013, the WPBSA brought charges against Lee concerning his group matches at the 2008 Malta Cup, two matches at the 2008 UK Championship, his match at the 2009 China Open, and a match at the 2009 World Snooker Championship. He was charged with violating sections 2.8 and 2.9 of the Members Rules and Regulations, which concern divulging information not already in the public domain with the express purpose of it being used for match-betting, and entering into an arrangement to influence the result of a game.{{cite news |title=World Snooker says Stephen Lee has 'a case to answer' after Briton is named in match-fixing investigation |date=14 February 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/9869891/World-Snooker-says-Stephen-Lee-has-a-case-to-answer-after-Briton-is-named-in-match-fixing-investigation.html |access-date=14 February 2013}}{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement – Stephen Lee|date= 14 February 2013 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3075752,00.html |work=World Snooker|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=14 February 2013}} Lee applied for permission to play in the 2013 World Championship in the event that the proceedings against him would be brought to a close before the draw was made,{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Keogh |title=Stephen Lee: Suspended snooker player targets Crucible comeback |date=7 March 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/21684160 |access-date=17 April 2013}} but it later transpired that he would be unable to participate in the tournament after learning that his hearing would not take place before the qualifying draw.{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Keogh |title=Stephen Lee: Banned snooker player to miss Crucible |date=23 March 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/21911557 |access-date=17 April 2013}} On 10 April, the WPBSA announced that they would no longer be proceeding with the investigation into the Premier League match, although the inquiry into the remaining match-fixing charges would still go ahead.{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Keogh |title=Snooker: WPBSA drops separate Stephen Lee 'match-fixing' inquiry |date=10 April 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/22093673 |access-date=17 April 2013}} While suspended from WSA tournaments, Lee continued to compete in independently organised events, winning the RKGKhar Gymkhana Snooker Masters in May.{{cite news |first=Shailendra |last=Awasthi |title=Lee downs Advani in thriller |date=19 May 2013 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/snooker/billiards/Lee-downs-Advani-in-thriller/articleshow/20130754.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629123142/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-19/snooker-billiards/39369075_1_advani-52-break-saturday-evening |url-status=live |archive-date=29 June 2013 |access-date=1 June 2013}}

The case was heard by independent tribunal, Sport Resolutions UK, in a three-day hearing chaired by Adam Lewis QC, starting on 9 September 2013.{{cite news |author= |title=Stephen Lee's snooker career at stake in frame and match fixing tribunal |date=7 September 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/10293840/Stephen-Lees-snooker-career-at-stake-in-frame-and-match-fixing-tribunal.html |access-date=15 September 2013}}{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Keogh |title=Stephen Lee: Match-fixing verdict reserved to later date |date=11 September 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/24000431 |access-date=15 September 2013}} The verdict was delivered on 16 September, with Lee found guilty of influencing the outcome of seven matches in 2008 and 2009.{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Keogh |title=Stephen Lee found guilty of snooker match-fixing |date=16 September 2013 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/24114861 |access-date=16 September 2013}} On 25 September, he received a twelve-year ban from WSA events, backdated to the beginning of his suspension on 12 October 2012, running through to his 50th birthday on 12 October 2024, and ordered to pay £40,000 in costs.{{cite news |title=Stephen Lee: Snooker player given 12-year ban for match-fixing |publisher=BBC News |date=25 September 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/24223268 |access-date=25 September 2013}} Up until then it was the longest ban ever imposed in the sport{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |date=2013-10-10 |title=Lee to appeal his record 12-year ban |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-20245861.html |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}} until the lifetime bans given to Liang Wenbo and Li Hang in 2023.{{cite news |title=How snooker match fixing works, who spots it and why gamblers exploit the sport |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3223539/match-fixing-snooker-how-it-works-why-gamblers-exploit-sport-and-who-detects-it |work=South China Morning Post |date=9 June 2023 }} Lee subsequently appealed against the "finding of the tribunal, the sanction and the costs awarded".{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3487082,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=9 October 2013|date=9 October 2013}} Sport Resolutions appointed Edwin Glasgow QC to chair the appeal, with the Appeals Committee determining that the appeal should be heard in two parts.{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement |date= 18 December 2013 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3583097,00.html |work=World Snooker|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=4 March 2014}} Originally set for 30 January 2014, the appeal was adjourned to 17 February.{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement |date=31 January 2014 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3646870,00.html |work=World Snooker|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=4 March 2014}}{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement |date=17 February 2014 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3674306,00.html |work=World Snooker|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=4 March 2014}} In the first stage of his appeal Lee challenged the independence of Adam Lewis, chairman of the original tribunal. Lewis had previously represented Leyton Orient F.C.—owned by World Snooker's CEO, Barry Hearn—in a legal dispute, and Lee's legal team argued there was a conflict of interest. The argument was rejected on 25 February, and he was ordered to pay a further £30,000 in costs. The appeals panel recused itself from the second part of the appeal—in which Lee would challenge the guilty verdict itself—after finding him to be an unreliable witness.{{cite news |title=Stephen Lee: First part of banned snooker star's appeal dismissed |date=25 February 2014 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/26235837 |access-date=4 March 2014}}{{cite news |title=Stephen Lee: Appeal panel steps down over 'truthfulness' doubts |date=14 March 2014 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/26574672 |access-date=17 March 2014}} On 15 May, with Nicholas Stewart QC presiding, the remainder of the appeal was dismissed and the costs awarded against Lee at the Adam Lewis hearing were increased from £40,000 to £75,000.{{cite news |title=Stephen Lee: Appeal against 12-year ban dismissed |date=15 May 2014 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27346056 |access-date=15 May 2014}}{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement |date=15 May 2014 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3833767,00.html |work=World Snooker|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=15 May 2014}} Stewart also awarded further costs of £20,000 against Lee for the second part of his appeal, bringing the total costs awarded against him to £125,000.{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement – Stephen Lee |date=4 June 2014 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3880567,00.html |work=World Snooker|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=12 June 2014}} Lee has never discharged these legal costs.{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=Ben |date=2022-10-18 |title=Stephen Lee would be ‘welcomed back with open arms’ after 12-year snooker ban |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/other-sport/snooker/stephen-lee-john-higgins-snooker-28266200 |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=Irish Mirror |language=en}} He was removed from the snooker tour and world rankings in June 2014.{{cite web|title=2014/15 List of Tour Players|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3898174,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=11 June 2014|date=12 June 2014}}{{cite web |title=World Rankings after the 2014 Wuxi Classic |date=30 June 2014 |work=World Snooker |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/96/c2/0,,13165~180886,00.pdf |access-date=1 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701181005/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/96/c2/0%2C%2C13165~180886%2C00.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2014 |df=dmy }}

Personal life

Lee married his long-term partner Laura in 2005. He has four children, including twin sons. His son Alfie Lee has become a noted amateur snooker player.{{Cite web |last=Caulfield |first=David |date=2022-10-13 |title=Stephen Lee answers comeback calls as son Alfie wins 900 event |url=https://snookerhq.com/2022/10/13/stephen-lee-answers-comeback-calls-son-alfie/ |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=SnookerHQ |language=en-GB}} When playing on the professional tour, he was noted for his unusually high weight.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jan/19/snooker.sport|title=Weight and expectation no problem for Lee|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Clive|last=Everton|author-link=Clive Everton|access-date=4 October 2009|date=19 January 2008|location=London}}{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Charles |title=Quotes of the week |date=29 January 2008 |website=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/7213292.stm |access-date=13 June 2020}}

In September 2015, Lee was featured on the BBC's Inside Out West documentary series, which revealed that he had established the Stephen Lee Billiards Academy, a snooker coaching club for children and young people, in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.{{Cite news|title = Banned Lee to start Chinese academy|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/34201430|website= BBC|access-date = 2015-09-15}}

=Criminal convictions=

Since leaving the professional game, Lee has had several run-ins with the law. On 9 June 2014 Lee pleaded guilty to fraud at Swindon Magistrates' Court and was fined £110. Lee had sold his personal snooker cue to a Facebook fan for £1,600 but when he failed to deliver the cue the fan reported the matter to the police. Lee was also ordered to repay the £1,600 cost of the cue.{{cite news | title=Stephen Lee guilty of snooker cue fraud sale to Facebook fan |date=9 June 2014| work=BBC Sport | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27762274 | access-date=9 June 2014}}

On 12 April 2018, Lee was arrested in Hong Kong following an immigration raid at a billiards hall. Lee was charged with teaching snooker without a work permit and appeared in court on 14 April where he pleaded not guilty to breaching the conditions of his tourist visa. Lee was forced to surrender his passport and was bailed until June.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Mullen| title=Stephen Lee: Banned snooker player denies charge of working illegally in Hong Kong |date=27 April 2018| work=BBC Sport | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/43894081 | access-date=28 April 2018}} Lee changed his plea to a guilty plea on the first day of his trial, and the case was dismissed after he agreed to a 12-month good behaviour bond of HK$1,000 (£95).{{cite news | title=Stephen Lee: Banned snooker player avoids prison in Hong Kong |date=8 June 2018| work=BBC Sport | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/44409924 | access-date=15 June 2018}}

Performance and rankings timeline

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"

! Tournament

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Ranking{{cite web|title=Ranking History|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp|website=Snooker.org|access-date=6 February 2011}}From the 2010/2011 season it shows the ranking at the beginning of the season.

| style="text-align:center;"|New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking.

| style="text-align:center;"|101

| style="text-align:center;"|40

| style="text-align:center;"|37

| style="text-align:center;"|31

| style="text-align:center;"|16

| style="text-align:center;"|9

| style="text-align:center;"|6

| style="text-align:center;"|5

| style="text-align:center;"|8

| style="text-align:center;"|7

| style="text-align:center;"|5

| style="text-align:center;"|9

| style="text-align:center;"|10

| style="text-align:center;"|13

| style="text-align:center;"|26

| style="text-align:center;"|25

| style="text-align:center;"|23

| style="text-align:center;"|18

| style="text-align:center;"|8

colspan="30" | Ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Wuxi Classic

| colspan="16" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Non-Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Australian Goldfields OpenThe event run under different names as Australian Open (1994/1995) and Australian Masters (1995/1996)

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR

| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Shanghai Masters

| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | International Championship

| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| WD

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | UK Championship

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | German MastersThe event run under different name as German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR

| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Welsh Open

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World OpenThe event run under different names as Grand Prix (1992/1993–2000/2001 and 2004/2005–2009/2010), LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004), the World Open (2010/2011) and the Haikou World Open (2011/2012)

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| {{nowrap|Players Championship Grand FinalThe event run under different name as Players Tour Championship Grand Finals (2010/2011–2012/2013)}}

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;"| China OpenThe event run under different name as China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| WD

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Championship

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

colspan="30" | Non-ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Six-red World Championship

| colspan="16" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Premier LeagueThe event ran under a different name as the European League (1992/1993–1996/1997)

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| WD

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | The Masters

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Shoot-Out

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Championship League

| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | General Cup

| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

colspan="30" | Former ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Dubai ClassicThe event ran under different names such as the Thailand Classic (1995/1996) and Asian Classic (1996/1997)

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Grand Prix

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Non-Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Thailand MastersThe event ran under different names as the Asian Open (1992/1993) and Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997)

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Scottish OpenThe event ran under different names such as the International Open (1992/1993–1996/1997) and Players Championship (2003/2004)

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| WD

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | British Open

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| WD

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Masters

| colspan="10" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Non-Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NR

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta CupThe event ran under different names such as the European Open (1992/1993–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004) and Irish Open (1998/1999)

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Northern Ireland Trophy

| colspan="13" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|NR

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|3R

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Bahrain Championship

| colspan="16" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

colspan="30" | Former non-ranking tournaments

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | German Masters

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Ranking

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Millennium Cup

| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|W

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Pontins Professional

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Champions CupThe event ran under a different name as Charity Challenge (1994/1995–1998/1999)

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Grand Prix

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| R

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Scottish Masters

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| LQ

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|SF

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Masters

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|F

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malta Cup

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| R

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Not Held

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Ranking Event

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|RR

| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Brazil Masters

| colspan="19" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Power Snooker

| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| Tournament Not Held

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| A

| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"| NH

class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"

! colspan="6"|Performance table legend

align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|LQ

| lost in the qualifying draw

| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|#R

| lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)

| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF

| lost in the quarter-finals

align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF

| lost in the semi–finals

| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F

| lost in the final

| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|W

| won the tournament

align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DNQ

| did not qualify for the tournament

| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|A

| did not participate in the tournament

| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|WD

| withdrew from the tournament

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"\|NH / Not Held	event was not held.
style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"\|NR / Non-Ranking Event	event is/was no longer a ranking event.
style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"\|R / Ranking Event	event is/was a ranking event.
style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"\|MR / Minor-Ranking Event	event is/was a minor-ranking event.

Career finals

=Ranking finals: 9 (5 titles)=

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="275"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="40"| Score

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 1998

| Grand Prix

| {{flagicon|HKG}} {{sortname|Marco|Fu}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 9–2

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 1999

| China Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie O'Sullivan

| style="text-align:center;"| 2–9

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2.

| 2000

| Welsh Open

| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|John|Higgins}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 8–9

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2.

| 2001

| LG Cup {{tooltip|2=The LG Cup was a continuation of the Grand Prix but under a different name|(2)}}

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Peter|Ebdon}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 9–4

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 3.

| 2002

| Thailand Masters

| {{flagicon|WAL}} {{sortname|Mark|Williams|Mark Williams (snooker player)}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4–9

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 3.

| 2002

| Scottish Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|David|Gray|David Gray (snooker player)}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 9–2

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 4.

| 2006

| Welsh Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Shaun|Murphy}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 9–4

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 4.

| 2012

| World Open

| {{flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Mark|Allen|Mark Allen (snooker player)}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1–10

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 5.

| 2012

| Players Tour Championship Finals

| {{flagicon|AUS}} {{sortname|Neil|Robertson|Neil Robertson (snooker player)}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4–0

=Minor-ranking finals: 3 (2 titles) =

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="275"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="40"| Score

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 2010

| MIUS Cup

| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Stephen|Maguire}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4–2

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 2012

| {{nowrap|Asian Players Tour Championship – Event 1}}

| {{Flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Stuart|Bingham}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 3–4

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2.

| 2012

| {{nowrap|Asian Players Tour Championship – Event 2}}

| {{Flagicon|CHN}} {{sortname|Ding|Junhui}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4–0

=Non-ranking finals: 5 (3 titles)=

class="wikitable"

! Legend

bgcolor="ffffcc"

| The Masters (0–1)

Other (3–1)

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="275"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="50"| Score

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 1999

| Irish Masters

| {{Flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Stephen|Hendry}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 8–9

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 1999

| Millennium Cup

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Ronnie|O'Sullivan}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 7–2

bgcolor="ffffcc"

| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2.

| 2008

| The Masters

| {{Flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Mark|Selby}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 3–10

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2.

| 2011

| General Cup

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Ricky|Walden}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 7–6

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 3.

| 2011

| India Open Invitational

| {{Flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy White

| style="text-align:right;"| 10–7 {{nowrap|{{cite web |url=https://www.cuesportsindia.com/myweb/tournament11/results/CCI2011.htm |title=CCI Open Invitational Snooker Tournament 2011 |website=Cue Sports India |access-date=2 October 2017 |archive-date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313185304/http://www.cuesportsindia.com/myweb/tournament11/results/CCI2011.htm |url-status=live }}}}

=Pro-am finals: 6 (3 titles)=

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="275"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="40"| Score

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1.

| 1995

| Pontins Autumn Open

| {{Flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Graeme|Dott}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1–5

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 2.

| 2007

| Austrian Open

| {{Flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Tom|Ford|dab=snooker player}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4–5

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 2010

| Vienna Snooker Open

| {{flagicon|BEL}} {{sortname|Bjorn|Haneveer}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 5–4

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2.

| 2013

| 3 Kings Open

| {{flagicon|MLT}} {{sortname|Tony|Drago}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 5–4

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 3.

| 2013

| RKG-Khar Gymkhana Snooker Masters

| {{flagicon|IND}} {{sortname|Pankaj|Advani|Pankaj Advani (billiards player)}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 10–9

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 3.

| 2023

| CCI Snooker Classic

| {{flagicon|IND}} {{sortname|Pankaj|Advani|Pankaj Advani (billiards player)}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2–7{{cite news |title=Advani outclasses Lee to win CCI snooker crown |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/advani-outclasses-lee-to-win-cci-snooker-crown-101674928813689.html |access-date=31 January 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |date=28 January 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128201055/https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/advani-outclasses-lee-to-win-cci-snooker-crown-101674928813689.html |archive-date=28 January 2023 |df=dmy-all}}

=Team finals: 1 (1 title)=

class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"

!width="80"|Outcome

!width="20"|No.

!width="50"|Year

!width="180"|Championship

!width="200"|Team

!width="150"|Opponent in the final

!width="40"|Score

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 2000

| Nations Cup

| {{flagcountry|ENG}}

| {{flagcountry|WAL}}

| align="center"|6–4

=Amateur finals: 3 (3 titles)=

class="sortable wikitable"

!width="80"| Outcome

!width="20"| No.

!width="50"| Year

!width="275"| Championship

!width="200"| Opponent in the final

!width="40"| Score

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 1.

| 1990

| British Under-16 Championship

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Matthew Paffett

| style="text-align:center;"|3–0{{cite news |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |title=Sports round-up: Snooker |date=14 May 1990 |page=41}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 2.

| 1992

| British Under-18 Championship

| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sortname|Paul|Hunter}}

| style="text-align:center;"|4–2{{cite news|title=Steve hits peak form|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004769/19920602/027/0027|url-access=subscription|work=Bristol Evening Post|date=2 June 1992|page=27}}

style="background:#98FB98"|Winner

| 3.

| 1992

| English Amateur Championship

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Mosley

| style="text-align:center;"| 13–8

References

External links

{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090917111028/http://www.global-snooker.com/Stephen-Lee.asp Player profile on Global Snooker]}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081226191911/http://uk.yahoo.eurosport.com/snooker/person_prs28949.shtml Profile on Yahoo! Sport]

Category:English snooker players

Category:Sportspeople from Trowbridge

Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Match fixers

Category:Banned sportspeople