1978 UK Snooker Championship

The 1978 Coral UK Championship took place at the Guildhall, Preston between November 22 and December 1 1978.

1978 would be the first of 20 UK Championship competitions to be played in Preston's Guildhall. Coral Racing were the sponsors and would be until 1985.

The most dramatic match came in the qualifying rounds when Terry Griffiths, a newly turned professional was beaten 9-8 by Rex Williams after leading 8-2.The championship proper also provided plenty of surprises. Patsy Fagan, the defending UK champion went out 9-7 in the first round to David Taylor who, after a decade in the professional ranks, reached his first major final by beating Alex Higgins 9-5 in the semi-final. In the other half, Roy Andrewartha beat John Spencer 9-8 and Willie Thorne beat Ray Reardon 9-6 only to collapse 9-1 against Graham Miles, whose 139 break set a tournament record. In the semi-finals it was Miles' turn to collapse 9-1 to Doug Mountjoy who, keeping his best till last, clinched his final victory over Taylor with a break of 120. The BBC televised the final again shown on "Grandstand" and with Ted Lowe commentating the match.

Prize Money

Winner £3,500

Total £12,500

The Results

Qualifying Competition Best of 17 frames

flagicon|Wales Doug Mountjoy 9-5 John Barrie

Round16
|flagicon|England David Taylor|9|flagicon|Ireland Patsy Fagan|7
|flagicon|England John Virgo|9|flagicon|England John Pulman|3
|flagicon|England Fred Davis|9|flagicon|England John Dunning|2
|flagicon|Northern Ireland Alex Higgins|9|flagicon|England Jim Meadowcroft|6
|flagicon|England Willie Thorne|9|flagicon|Wales Ray Reardon|6
|flagicon|England Graham Miles|9|flagicon|England Rex Williams|8
|flagicon|Wales Doug Mountjoy|9|flagicon|Northern Ireland Dennis Taylor|4
|flagicon|England Roy Andrewartha|9|flagicon|England John Spencer|8
|flagicon|England David Taylor|9|flagicon|England John Virgo|2
|flagicon|Northern Ireland Alex Higgins|9|flagicon|England Fred Davis|4
|flagicon|England Graham Miles|9|flagicon|England Willie Thorne|1
|flagicon|Wales Doug Mountjoy|9|flagicon|England Roy Andrewartha|4
|flagicon|England David Taylor|9|flagicon|Northern Ireland Alex Higgins|5
|flagicon|Wales Doug Mountjoy|9|flagicon|England Graham Miles|1
|flagicon|Wales Doug Mountjoy|15|flagicon|England David Taylor|9
3rdplace=no

Highest Break

139 Graham Miles