Lely won the 1999 World Pool Masters after defeating Efren Reyes 7–5, and reached the final in 2000 but lost to Ralf Souquet 7–3.

[3] Lely turned professional in 1998, and the following year won his first major tournament, the World Pool Masters.

[4] The same season, Lely debuted for the European Mosconi Cup team in the 1999 event, thanks to his win at the Masters.

[2][6] Lely also won his first Euro Tour event, defeating Francisco Bustamante in the final of the 1999 German Open.

[13] In 2003, he once again reached the later stages at the World Pool Masters, this time finishing as a losing semifinalist to Hsia Hui-Kai 8–4.

[19] Before the 2007 WPA World Nine-ball Championship, he retired from the professional circuit; citing not wanting as much pressure to perform and tournaments not suiting his style of play.