WSOP Legends Profile: Sailor Roberts

WSOP Champions by James on November 1, 2008

Generally it is believed that being a good person is incompatible with being a good poker player. But for Brian “Sailor” Roberts that was the picture he presented to the others. Growing up in San Angelo, TX, Roberts’ first gambling that he took a shine to was craps. As a 12 year old caddie in local golf club he specialized in shooting craps against his colleagues.

He did not cherish gambling as his only goal and aim. He was a talented football player during his high school days and had planned to play the same at the college level as well. But then a change of mind landed him the Navy. His duty years coincided with the years of Korean War. He had almost become familiar with all types of war ships. The nickname “Sailor” came to him in this fashion. But one thing was certain. All through his times in the Navy he continued his craps game and seemed determined to be a professional gambler when once permanently found foothold on land.

In the 1950s he teamed up with Amarillo Slim Preston and Doyle Brunson. The group travelled throughout the country. They specialized in playing poker and sports-betting. For an unbroken period of six years this continued. The provisions of the Federal Wire Act caught up with Roberts in 1962 and he was arrested for conducting betting on sports over the telephone. After a year’s prison life Roberts concentrated only on poker.

In 1970 when World Series of Poker was in its infancy, Roberts was among the invitees for the first game. He was a regular in the event for many years. It was in 1974 that he got his first WSOP bracelet in the $5,000 2-7 Draw Event. His prize earnings were $35,850 when he won over Larry Perkins. In the following year he achieved cherished goal winning the WSOP Main Event. This he accomplished by outlasting 20 players. He took home the Championship Bracelet and prize earnings of $210,000.

It was the practice until 1975 to award the Main Event Winner just a trophy and the prize money. In 1975 the idea of giving a physical bracelet began. In this sense Roberts may be said to be the first person to have won a bracelet. Subsequently past champions were also awarded the bracelets retrospectively as a decision had been made that for Main Event Champions the bracelet would be the reward of recognition.

Roberts continued to play at the WSOP for many more years though he did not meet with a high level of success. The 1982 Main Event saw him finish in the 8th place. He passed away later on due to sclerosis caused by hepatitis. He was fondly recollected for his generosity to every one. In 1961 he looked after Doyle Brunson who had just then undergone an emergency surgery. He was also noted for compassion for a luckless fellow gambler and helped such people often. The best tribute to his personal popularity was when nobody felt jealous when he won the Main Event.

Despite a relatively short career in the poker world, he was noted for being a good man and that was not said of many in the field. It is true that this did not guarantee substantial earnings at the table, but it brought him the unreserved respect from others.