STEPHEN LEE (England)

World ranking: 9

Age: 24

World Championship best: Second round (1997, 1998)

Best ranking event performance: Winner one tournament - Grand Prix 1998

1998/99 ranking form: Grand Prix - Wnr, UK - R2, Irish - QF, Welsh - R2, Scottish - QF, Thailand - R2, China - QF, British - R1.

Lee stepped out of the wings and into the snooker limelight at Preston in October with a performance which left many of the game's established figures full of praise and wonder.

John Virgo described Lee's form during a resounding 9-2 win over Marco Fu in the Grand Prix final as ``fantastic'', while Dennis Taylor added ``phenomenal'' to the list of superlatives.

It was a first ranking tournament victory for the ex-English amateur champion from Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Lee was also runner-up to Stephen Hendry in the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters final, however he damaged his back in a freak accident at home and was forced to miss the British Open.

He now finds himself up to a career-high sixth in the provisional ranking list but has a disappointing record at the Crucible.

Lee lost 10-8 to Nigel Bond on his first appearance in 1995, was beaten 13-7 by James Wattana in the second round in 1997 and 13-8 by Ken Doherty in the last 16 in 1998.

© PA Sporting Life