Graham Miles (11 May 1941 – 12 October 2014) was an English snooker player.

Career Miles turned professional in 1971. He first gained recognition in 1974, when he reached the final of the World Championship, losing 12–22 to Ray Reardon. As he was left-eye dominant, the right-handed Miles developed an idiosyncratic sighting style with his cue crossing his chin on the left side. This style became more pronounced over time, to the point where the cue ran beneath his left ear.

Miles became one of the best known players in Britain, in an era when there was little televised snooker other than the Pot Black series. He won this tournament at his first attempt in 1974 (after entering as a late replacement for Fred Davis, who withdrew because of illness) and again in 1975. Other notable moments in his career included reaching the final of the 1976 Masters, where he again lost to Reardon.

The 1978/79 season saw something of a purple patch for Miles. At the 1978 UK Championship, he defeated Rex Williams 9–8 and then easily beat Willie Thorne 9–1, which included what was then a championship record break of 139 in the last frame. However, he was then dispatched 1–9 by eventual winner Doug Mountjoy.Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, January 1978, pp23-27.

This form continued in January 1979, when he reached the final of the Holsten Lager International by defeating John Pulman, Dennis Taylor and Alex Higgins. He led John Spencer 7–6 in the final, having made a break of 107, but eventually lost 7–11 to take £2,000 as runner-up.Everton Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, February 1979, pp13-15.

Miles led defending champion Ray Reardon 3–0 and 5–3 in the first round of the 1979 World Championship, but he came down with flu and lost 8–13.Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1979, p13. Straight after this, Miles defeated Doug Mountjoy 4–3 and Perrie Mans 5–2 in the group stages of the Pontins Professional Event. Miles then beat Steve Davis 4–0 in the semi-final but lost 4–8 in the final to Doug Mountjoy.Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, June 1979, p21.

At the inaugural World Team Cup, Miles represented England along with John Spencer and Fred Davis, where they reached the final only to be beaten 3–14 by Wales.Everton, Clive (Ed.) Snooker Scene, December 1979, pp5-9. His last major victory was the 1981 Tolly Cobbold Classic, when he beat Cliff Thorburn 5–1 in Ipswich. During the 1980s, he slid down the rankings, and 1984 saw his last appearance at the World Championship.

Personal life and death After retiring from the game in 1992, Miles ran two snooker clubs at Sandwell, West Midlands and one in Crewe, Cheshire. He came out of retirement to play at the Seniors Pot Black competition in 1997.

Miles died on 12 October 2014, aged 73.

Performance and rankings timeline Tournament 1971/72 1972/73 1973/74 1974/75 1975/76 1976/77 1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1980/81 1981/82 1982/83 1983/84 1984/85 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1993/94 RankingNo ranking system58991616182232365268657894101254 Ranking tournaments Dubai ClassicThe event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989)Tournament Not HeldNR1RLQAA Grand PrixThe event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/93–1983/1984)Tournament Not Held1R2R2R2R1R1RLQLQ1RLQLQ UK ChampionshipTournament Not HeldNon-Ranking EventLQ1R1R2RLQLQLQLQLQ European OpenTournament Not HeldLQLQLQAA Welsh OpenTournament Not HeldLQLQ International OpenThe event was also called the Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)Tournament Not HeldNRLQ1RLQ1R1RLQ1RLQNot HeldLQ Thailand OpenThe event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1993/1994)Tournament Not HeldNon-Ranking EventNot Held1RLQAA British OpenThe event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)Tournament Not HeldNon-Ranking Event3R1RLQ1RLQ1RLQLQLQ World ChampionshipNon-RankingF2R1RQFQF1R1R2R2R1R1RLQLQLQLQLQLQLQLQA Non-ranking tournaments The MastersNot HeldQFFSFQFAAAAAAAAAAAALQAA Pontins ProfessionalNot HeldAQFSFSFRRFAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Former ranking tournaments Canadian MastersThe event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981)Not HeldNon-RankingTournament Not HeldNon-RankingLQTournament Not Held Hong Kong OpenThe event ran under different names as Australian Masters (1979/1980 to 1987/1988) and the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990). Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking EventNHLQ Not Held ClassicTournament Not HeldNon-Ranking EventLQLQLQLQLQ1RLQLQLQNH Strachan OpenTournament Not HeldLQMR Former non-ranking tournaments Men of the MidlandsSFATournament Not Held World ChampionshipLQQFRanking Event Norwich Union OpenNot HeldQFQFTournament Not Held Watney OpenNot HeldQFTournament Not Held Canadian MastersThe event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981)Not HeldSFSFAAAAATournament Not HeldAAARTournament Not Held Canadian Club MastersTournament Not HeldQFTournament Not Held World Matchplay ChampionshipTournament Not HeldSFTournament Not Held Benson & Hedges Ireland TournamentNot HeldASFRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Holsten Lager InternationalTournament Not HeldFTournament Not Held Bombay InternationalTournament Not HeldRRTournament Not Held Golden MastersTournament Not HeldSFFTournament Not Held Limosin InternationalTournament Not HeldQFTournament Not Held Pot BlackAAWWRRRRFSFRRAAAAAATournament Not HeldAANH Padmore Super CrystalateTournament Not HeldQFTournament Not Held Pontins Camber SandsTournament Not HeldSFTournament Not Held Champion of ChampionsTournament Not HeldANHRRTournament Not Held ClassicTournament Not HeldAQFAARanking EventNot Held International OpenThe event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986)Tournament Not HeldQFRanking EventTournament Not Held Tolly Cobbold ClassicTournament Not HeldAAWSFAATournament Not Held UK ChampionshipTournament Not HeldQFSF2R1R2R1R1RRanking Event British OpenThe event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984)Tournament Not HeldRRRR2RLQLQRanking Event Tournament Not HeldQF Not Held1R1R1RLQ1R Tournament Not Held Shoot-Out Tournament Not Held1R Not Held

Performance Table LegendLQ lost in the qualifying draw#R lost in the early rounds of the tournament(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)QF lost in the quarter-finalsSF lost in the semi-finalsF lost in the finalW won the tournamentDNQ did not qualify for the tournamentA did not participate in the tournamentWD withdrew from the tournament NH / Not Held means an event was not held.NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.

Career finals Ranking finals: 1 Legend World Championship (0–1) Other (0–0)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreRunner-up 1. 1974 World Snooker Championship Ray Reardon 12–22

Non-ranking finals: 10 (5 titles) Legend The Masters (0–1) Other (5–4)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 1. 1974 Pot Black John Spencer Winner 2. 1974 Burscough Professional UnknownRound–RobinWinner 3. 1975 Pot Black (2) Dennis Taylor 1–0Runner-up 1. 1976 The Masters Ray Reardon 3–7Winner 4. 1977 Castle Professional Tournament Bernard BennettShared Title Runner-up 2. 1978 Pot Black Doug Mountjoy 1–2Runner-up 3. 1979 Holsten Lager International John Spencer 7–11Runner-up 4. 1979 Pontins Professional Doug Mountjoy 4–8Runner-up 5. 1979 Golden Masters Ray Reardon 2–4Winner 5. 1981 Tolly Cobbold Classic Cliff Thorburn 5–1

Pro-am finals: 1 (1 title) Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 1. 1973 Castle Open 4–1

Team finals: 2 Outcome No. Year Championship Team/partner Opponent(s) in the final ScoreRunner-up 1. 1975 Ladbroke International Rest of the World Cumulative scoreRunner-up 2. 1979 World Challenge Cup 3–14

Notes

References