Tony Miles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tony Miles |
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| Full name | Anthony John Miles |
| Country | England |
| Born | 23 April 1955 Birmingham, England |
| Died | 12 November 2001 (aged 46) Birmingham, England |
| Title | Grandmaster (1976) |
| Peak rating | 2635 (January 1996) |
| Peak ranking | No. 9 (January 1986) |
Anthony John Miles (born April 23, 1955 – died November 12, 2001) was a famous English chess player. He was the first Englishman to become a Grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can achieve.
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Early Life and Chess Beginnings
Tony Miles was born in Edgbaston, a part of Birmingham, England. He was an only child. He went to King Edward's School, Birmingham.
Tony started playing chess when he was young. He quickly became very good. He won the British under-14 Champion title in 1968. Later, in 1971, he became the British under-21 Champion.
First International Success
In 1973, Tony Miles won a silver medal at the World Junior Chess Championship in Teesside. This was his first big international tournament. The next year, he won this important title in Manila. At the time, he was studying math at the University of Sheffield.
Tony decided to become a professional chess player. He did not finish his university studies. However, in 1975, the university gave him a special MA degree for his amazing chess achievements.
Becoming a Grandmaster
| This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. |
In 1976, Tony Miles made history. He became the first person born in the UK to earn the Grandmaster title in over-the-board chess. He just barely beat another English player, Raymond Keene, to this achievement. For becoming a Grandmaster, Tony won a £5,000 prize. This money was given by a rich businessman and chess supporter named Jim Slater.
Tony had many great results in the late 1970s and 1980s. He became a world-class player. He won games against very strong opponents. These included former World Chess Champions like Vasily Smyslov, Mikhail Tal, and Boris Spassky.
Famous Wins
In 1980, at the European Team Chess Championship, Tony played against the reigning World Champion, Anatoly Karpov. Tony won the game while playing with the black pieces. He used a very unusual opening called the St. George Defence. He beat Karpov again three years later in Bath.
Tony won the British Chess Championship only once, in 1982. This event took place in Torquay.
Peak Performance
Tony's best time as a chess player was in the mid-1980s. In 1984, he set a European record for playing chess blindfolded. He played 22 games at once without looking at the boards. He won 10 games, lost 2, and drew 10.
In January 1986, Tony reached his highest world ranking. He was ranked World No. 9 with a rating of 2610. During this time, he had a friendly rivalry with John Nunn to see who was the best player in the UK. Other strong English players like Nigel Short and Jon Speelman also joined the competition. This was a very strong period for English chess.
Tony played for England at the Olympiads in 1984 and 1986. He helped the team win silver medals at both events.
After some health issues in 1987, Tony moved to the United States. He continued to play chess there and had some good results. In 1991, he played in the Championship of Australia. Later, he moved back to England and played for his home country again.
He tied for first place at the strong Cappelle-la-Grande Open in 1994, 1995, and 1997. In 1995, he surprised everyone at the PCA Intel Rapid Chess Grand Prix in London. He beat very strong players like Vladimir Kramnik.
Tony won the Capablanca Memorial in Cuba four times (1994, 1995, 1996, and 1999). His last tournament win was the 2001 Canadian Open Chess Championship.
The Miles Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4) in the Queen's Indian Defence is named after him. This is a special way to start a chess game.
Personality
Tony Miles was known for having strong opinions. He sometimes disagreed with chess authorities and other English players. He was also known for his sharp and witty comments. He often wrote articles where he shared his thoughts on other chess players.
Death
Tony Miles passed away on November 12, 2001, from heart failure. He had diabetes, which contributed to his death. There was a moment of silence at the European Team Championships in León, Spain, to remember him.
Notable Games
- Karpov vs. Miles, Skara 1980. St. George Defence: 0–1. This is the famous game where Tony Miles beat World Champion Karpov using the unusual 1.e4 a6 opening.
- Miles vs. Spassky, 1982. Queen's Indian Opening: 1–0. In this game, Tony used a strong attack to win against Boris Spassky, who was one of the world's best players.
- Karpov vs. Miles, Bath 1983, Caro–Kann: 0–1. Another win for Tony against World Champion Karpov, again with the black pieces.
Images for kids
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Miles (Amsterdam, 1976)
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Miles on a stretcher with back pain, playing in Tilburg (1985)
See also
In Spanish: Tony Miles para niños
