Sunday, August 07, 2005

Torbjorn Blomdahl wins $100,000 Sang Lee International Open


In front of hundreds of enthusiastic fans and to be aired on national and international television, 10-time World Champion Torbjorn Blomdahl defeated Semih Sayginer 40-19 in the final match to win the first $100,000 Sang Lee International Open 3-cushion tournament. The best players from all over the world came to NYC to pay homage to Sang Chun Lee, the 12-time American champion who passed away last October due to stomach cancer. They played in the beautiful tournament arena that Sang designed inside Carom Cafe's 25,000 sq ft facilities in Flushing, NY.
The tournament featured 76 of the strongest 3-cushion billiard players of the world playing in round-robin format for the richest purse ever offered on American soil. After a grueling week of competition, Blomdahl bested all of them and is shown here holding up the coveted Carom Cup presented by Jana Water.

After the event, ABC sports personality Charlie Ursitti presented the Champion with an exquisite custom designed cue case made from python leather.














Tournament Champion Torbjorn Blomdahl with his new designer cue case.


All Photos courtesy of Joseph Ratke

Sayginer, Rojas and Torres Wow fans with spectacular fancy shots


World-renowned Artistic Billiard superstars Semih Sayginer (Turkey), Roberto Rojas (Mexico) and Miguel Torres (Colombia) put on a spectacular display of seemingly impossible fancy shots that astounded and amazed the 3-cushion fans after the $100,000 Sang Lee International Open event. Many of the shots stretched the limits of possibility as they were newly developed creations by the super-talented cuemen and seen by many for the first time.



World Champion Roberto Rojas displayed awesome stroke and masse shots never before seen by the crowd.

World Champion Semih Sayginer shows off his awesome power and finesse.

5-time Colombian Champion Miguel Torres presents his amazing stroke shots.



This spectacular show, presented by Jana Water, was captured on film and will be shown on national and international television.

The official cloth sponsor of the Artistic Exhibition was Simonis.

The official table sponsor of the tournament, Elitte Professional made its United States debut with their "Spider" design at this prestigious event.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Jana excites 3-cushion fans with first-ever Million Dollar Billiard

A member of the audience at the Sang Lee International Open stepped up and took a shot at the Million Dollar Billiard, the 3-cushion opening break-shot for $1,000,000, presented by Jana Water. The landmark shot was taken on the stunning Elitte Professional "Spider" table - the official table sponsor of the tournament - presented by Billiard Project, Mexico.



Above pic: The winning ticket is drawn in front of an anticipating audience.

There was a lot of suspense and pressure for the contestant, Paul Rubino, as he tried to remain calm amidst the spotlights, cameras and numerous excited spectators focused on him. His objective was to duplicate for $1,000,000 the resting positions of the 3 carom balls of the breakshot that had just been scored by champion player Torbjorn Blomdahl and then carefully marked. Competition Sports presented an exact replica of Willie Hoppe's billiard cue for the contestant to use and the crowd held their breath as he attempted the shot of his life.

Tournament winner, Torbjorn Blomdahl , takes the set up breakshot.







Paul Frankel (Professor Q-ball) and his assitant Hector Ruiz uses special laser-equipment to mark the exact final resting position of the 3 balls with Jana targets once Mr. Blomdahl completes the shot.

Television's ABC sports personality, Charlie Ursitti prepares contestant, Paul Rubino, for his $1,000,000 attempt in front of the cameras.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Long awaited NYC ceremony for Sang Chun Lee finally takes place


In the beautiful arena that he designed, in front of his dear friends and his adoring fans, a long-awaited traditional memorial ceremony took place for Sang Chun Lee, the 12-time American 3-cushion champion. After undergoing months of medical treatment overseas in his hometown of Seoul, Korea, Sang Lee passed away last October, 2004 and was buried there.




A moment of silence for the American champion.









World Champions from Holland, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Spain gather around to pay homage at the memorial of Sang Chun Lee.


Memorial photos courtesy of Jonathan Smith

Belgium Consulate Presents Raymond Ceulemans with lifetime achievement award

The honorable Mrs. Verbeek from the Belgium Consulate presented the great Raymond Ceulemans, who was recently knighted by King Albert of Belgium, with a lifetime achievement award for his accomplishments in 3-cushion billiards.


Count Raymond Ceulemans is a 35-time 3-cushion champion of the world and arguably the greatest billiard player ever to walk the earth.

Twenty players remain in $100,000 Sang Lee International Open


Only twenty players remain standing in the $100,000 Sang Lee International Open.

They will continue round robin play in two flights (A and B) to determine the Carom Cup Champion.

The prestigious Carom Cup perpetual trophy is presented by Jana Water.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Mayor Proclaims "3-Cushion Billiards Week" in NYC

In an opening ceremony appropriate for the grand occasion, Mayor Bloomberg sent NYC Sports Commissioner, Kenneth J. Podziba to officially open the Sang Lee International Open with a beautiful Proclamation from the City of New York.


Kenneth J. Podziba, awaiting his official opening speech and reading of the Proclamation.






Mr. Podziba officially opens the $100,000 Sang Lee International Open and welcomes all of the guests to NYC.

Official presentation of the Mayor's framed Proclamation to former USBA President and tournament director, Charles M. Brown.

Olivia Lee delivers a touching opening speech to the crowd as they remember her late father, Sang Lee.

Monday, August 01, 2005

76 International 3-cushion Players Compete for Jana Carom Cup and $100,000 in Prize Money


Seventy six of the world best players have desended to NYC to participate in the richest 3-cushion billiard event ever to be staged on American soil.

The event is being held in honor of Sang Chun Lee, the 12-time USBA National Champion who passed away last October due to stomach cancer.

Included in the field are 10-time World Champion, Torbjorn Blomdahl of Sweden, 6-time World Champion, Dick Jaspers of Holland, 3-time and current World Champion, Daniel Sanchez of Spain, 1-time World Champion, Semih Sayginer of Turkey, 35-time World Champion, Raymond Ceulemans of Belgium and 1-time World Champion, Marco Zanetti of Italy. Over seventeen different countries are respresented in the international field of competition.

The coveted Carom Cup perpetual trophy of the $100,000 Sang Lee

International Open is presented by Jana water.

The official cloth sponsor of the event was Iwan Simonis.

The official table sponsor of the tournament, Elitte Professional, made its United States debut of its "Spider" design at this prestigious event.