50 Years Ago, a San Angelo Man Won the World Series of Poker

SAN ANGELO, TX — This year marks the 50th anniversary of a San Angelo man winning the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Brian “Sailor” Roberts won the $10,000 buy-in event in 1975 at Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas.

It was a winner-take-all tournament at the time, and Roberts bested a field of 20 other competitors to win $210,000.

On the final hand, his pocket jacks held against a busted flush draw from Bob Hooks.

Roberts earned the nickname, “Sailor,” for having served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was one of a handful of Texans who claimed WSOP titles in its early years, joining legends like Johnny Moss from Odessa, Doyle Brunson from Longworth (near Sweetwater) and Thomas Preston, better known as Amarillo Slim.

All of those players, including Roberts, are now in the Poker Hall of Fame.

Roberts participated in the first World Series of Poker in 1970 with six other players — Brunson, Moss, Preston, Puggy Pearson, Crandell Addington and Carl Cannon.

Roberts made five other final tables at the WSOP Main Event, finishing third in 1974 and fifth in 1977. He made his last final table in 1982 when he finished in eighth place out of 104 entrants.

He also won a WSOP bracelet in 1974 in the $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event.

Roberts died at the age of 64 on June 23, 1995.