Brian "Sailor" Roberts was an American poker player who won the 1975 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.
One of the original Texas road gamblers, Roberts won two WSOP bracelets during his career.
He died in June 1995, and was posthumously inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2012.
Biography
Roberts was born in San Angelo, Texas on March 7, 1931. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the US navy and served in the Korean War, earning himself the nickname "Sailor".
When he eventually returned to Texas, he began playing in underground poker games with fellow rounders Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim.
In his book 'Super System', Brunson writes the following:
"Sailor, Slim and I stuck together for six years or so and we had some mighty fine times. Once in a while we were down, but mostly we managed to hold our own better than most. Our partnership finally broke up after our first big trip to Las Vegas. We lost our entire bankroll (close to six figures) and, believe me. there’s nothing more cantankerous than three broke gamblers, but we have remained close friends to this day".
1975 WSOP Main Event
Roberts had played at the World Series of Poker every year since its inception in 1970. He finished sixth in 1973 and third in 1974. That same year he picked up his first bracelet in Event #4: $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw.
In 1975, he won the Main Event for $210,000. He defeated Bob Hooks heads-up to top a field of 21 players. He only registered one further WSOP cash, finishing eighth in the 1985 Main Event.
Brian "Sailor" Roberts WSOP Bracelets
| Year | Event | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Event #4: $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw | $35,850 |
| 1975 | Event #5: $10,000 NLHE WSOP Main Event | $210,000 |
WSOP Main Event Winners 1970-79
| YEAR | ENTRIES | CHAMPION | COUNTRY | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 54 | Hal Fowler | United States | $270,000 |
| 1978 | 42 | Bobby Baldwin | United States | $210,000 |
| 1977 | 34 | Doyle Brunson | United States | $340,000 |
| 1976 | 22 | Doyle Brunson | United States | $220,000 |
| 1975 | 21 | Brian Roberts | United States | $210,000 |
| 1974 | 16 | Johnny Moss | United States | $160,000 |
| 1973 | 13 | Walter Pearson | United States | $130,000 |
| 1972 | 8 | Thomas Preston | United States | $80,000 |
| 1971 | 6 | Johnny Moss | United States | $30,000 |
| 1970 | 7 | Johnny Moss | United States | N/A |