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Graham Miles (11 May 1941 – 15 October 2014) was a retired English snooker player.[1]
Miles turned professional in 1969. He first gained recognition in 1974, when he reached the final of the World Championship. Although he lost 22–12 to Ray Reardon, this turned out to be the highlight of his career. He won Pot Black in 1974 (after entering as a late replacement for Fred Davis, who withdrew because of illness), and again in 1975, but had little subsequent success. Other notable moments in Miles's career included the runner-up spot in the 1976 Masters, again losing to Reardon.
1978/9 represented something of a purple patch for Miles. At the UK Championship, Miles defeated Rex Williams 9-8 and then hammered Willie Thorne 9-1 which included what was then a championship record break of 139 in the last frame. However, he was then dispatched 9-1 by eventual winner Doug Mountjoy.[2]
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 11-7, to take £2000 as runner up.[3]
Miles led defending champion Ray Reardon 3-0 and 5-3 in the first round of the 1979 World Championship, but a dose of flu overcame him and he lost 13-8.[4] 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 8-4 in the final to Doug Mountjoy.[5]
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 14-3 by Wales.[6] His last major title was the Tolly Cobbold Classic in 1981, when he beat Cliff Thorburn 5–1 in Ipswich. During the 1980s, he slid down the rankings and he last played at the World Championship in 1984.
Miles was left-eyed and had a large chin, so had one of the most distinctive styles in snooker to line up his left eye with the cue. The cue runs beneath his left ear, his chin hanging far over his cue; as he strikes the cue ball, the cue brushes his left cheek. He retired in 1992. After stopping playing, he ran two snooker clubs at Sandwell, West Midlands,[7] and one at Crewe, Cheshire. However, he did play at the Seniors Pot Black competition in 1997. Miles died on 15 October 2014 aged 73. [8]
Miles turned professional in 1969. He first gained recognition in 1974, when he reached the final of the World Championship. Although he lost 22–12 to Ray Reardon, this turned out to be the highlight of his career. He won Pot Black in 1974 (after entering as a late replacement for Fred Davis, who withdrew because of illness), and again in 1975, but had little subsequent success. Other notable moments in Miles's career included the runner-up spot in the 1976 Masters, again losing to Reardon.
1978/9 represented something of a purple patch for Miles. At the UK Championship, Miles defeated Rex Williams 9-8 and then hammered Willie Thorne 9-1 which included what was then a championship record break of 139 in the last frame. However, he was then dispatched 9-1 by eventual winner Doug Mountjoy.[2]
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 11-7, to take £2000 as runner up.[3]
Miles led defending champion Ray Reardon 3-0 and 5-3 in the first round of the 1979 World Championship, but a dose of flu overcame him and he lost 13-8.[4] 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 8-4 in the final to Doug Mountjoy.[5]
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 14-3 by Wales.[6] His last major title was the Tolly Cobbold Classic in 1981, when he beat Cliff Thorburn 5–1 in Ipswich. During the 1980s, he slid down the rankings and he last played at the World Championship in 1984.
Miles was left-eyed and had a large chin, so had one of the most distinctive styles in snooker to line up his left eye with the cue. The cue runs beneath his left ear, his chin hanging far over his cue; as he strikes the cue ball, the cue brushes his left cheek. He retired in 1992. After stopping playing, he ran two snooker clubs at Sandwell, West Midlands,[7] and one at Crewe, Cheshire. However, he did play at the Seniors Pot Black competition in 1997. Miles died on 15 October 2014 aged 73. [8]
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Sad to hear that kenny. Good player and a real nice guy. Used to practice at my old snooker club.
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Not many had their gob on the wrong side of the cue.
R.I.P. |
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didnt realise he was still alive ......was a good solid player
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I liked him, very nice guy, use to be married to the actress Pat Coomes I think
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Remember him as a regular on Pot Black.
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Briefly married to the delightful Queenie Watts if memory serves.
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Yes, remember him from Pot Black in the 70s.
Didn't know he was married to Pat Coombes. RIP |
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After he divorced Queenie Watts he married Thora Hird.
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the buster was having a little joke
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Yes, I thought so when I read KM's post. CMAT's confirmed it.
The Queenie Watts reference seems to be a long-standing joke but I don't get it |
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Pot black, graeme miles , John Pullman, Eddie charlton, john spencer , etc,etc loved it, Friday 9pm BBC2
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IAWN, Queenie was married to many people, including Engelbert Humperdink..
"Know your stuff man" |
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OK
Ironically, Pat Coombs was never married. Or was that the point of your joke? |
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I got his autograph back in 78` at the Pontins Professional event. He was much nicer than Fred Davis who was actually a tit.
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RIP one of my favs from years gon by
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Just wobbled the tenth black but seventy-three ain't a bad knock, sir.
Well played, Graham. |
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RIP
GM Was good to watch and a regular on the tv. I see someone has mentioned Eddie Charlton, was anybody slower than him. |
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my old man might be waiting for him when he gets upstairs,he used to tell me of the marathon matches they used to play in the bus depots of birmingham(both worked for birmingham city transport in the late 60s)r.i.p graham
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73 ain't a bad knock! It's not brilliant either Poker'. In fact below par, I hope.
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 Used to play in the pro ams at Sandwell played dave Harold a few timesthink I made 3 50's and still lost 3-1 on one occasion.Can't believe he was only 73 I actually thought he'd passed away years ago.. |
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I played Joe Johnson, the World Champion in the early 70s in a Working Men's Club match. Lost about 70-5. lol
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saw hit at wolverhampton races turf
RIP |
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Kenny is it true you got the 5 on a foul shot
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No i potted a red and a brown tmm. Joe played for a WMC in Bradford, as I did and our teams met. I think he was only about 16. Shouldn't have been allowed to play. On another note, my late cat Cleo, belonged to Joe's sons chicks mum. Long story but I ended up with her. Loved that cat.
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I wasn't a regular team member, but I was chosen as I played regularly and one of our men was ill. As I was the weakest player in the teaam they put me in against "the young kid" I'll always remember those words. lol
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Not many people can say they have played the world champion in a competitive match kenny. I hope you bet him when he won the big prize. Think he was 100/1
I believe he was a good singer too. |
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the cat or the mum ?
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RIP Graham Miles
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