Brian Roberts: Sailor Roberts – World Series of Poker Player Bio
Brian “Sailor” Roberts grew up in the small town of San Angelo, Texas. Roberts worked at the local golf course and shot craps with his fellow caddies. Despite starting on his high school football team, Roberts love for gambling won out.
After high school, Brian Roberts enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Korean War. After four years in the service, the man now known as Sailor Roberts left the military life and became a professional gambler.
Sailor Roberts met up with Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson – all three becoming legends in the poker world. The three rounders played games across Texas and into Las Vegas.
“Sailor, Slim and I stuck together for six years or so and we had some mighty fine times,” wrote Doyle Brunson in his bestseller Super/System. “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”.
In the 1960s, Sailor Roberts was convicted of operating a bookmaking operation – a side job that Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson gave up after the passage of the 1961 Federal Wire Act, which made it illegal to transmit sports and betting information over state lines. Sailor Roberts served one year in a minimum-security prison.
Upon Sailor’s release, poker buddy Doyle Brunson discovered a large lump in his throat that required emergency surgery. For two weeks, Sailor took turns with Brunson’s wife, Louise, caring for Brunson. Brunson made a full recovery.
In 1975, Sailor Roberts won the World Series of Poker main event, winning $210,000 and his second gold bracelet. He won his first bracelet the year before in the World Series of Poker $5000 Deuce to Seven Draw event.
Sailor Roberts was also a top bridge player and an expert in nearly any card game.
In his final years, Sailor Roberts was a regular at World Series of Poker, finishing in 8th place in 1982. Sailor Roberts died from sclerosis caused by hepatitis.
Sailor Roberts is remembered for being a southern gentleman of the poker world. He often helped others build their bankrolls and often loaned out money to other gamblers – whether he was paid back or not.
Bob Ciaffone sums up Sailor Roberts as “a very personable, capable player, probably the best liked of all the better known players.”
