John Roberts Jr (billiards player)

He won the world professional title eight times in matches between 1870 - 1885 when it was held on a challenge basis.

[3] This was held at St James's Hall, and promoted by the billiard player William Dufton.

[6] In his 1869 book Roberts On Billiards, his father believed his eldest son John at that time to have been the best of the second rank players alongside William Cook.

[16] Another victory for Roberts was achieved on 28 May 1877, with a 1,000–779 win over Cook at the Gaiety Restaurant, Strand, London.

Roberts had been suffering from an attack of Malaria which had stopped him being able to practice a week before the match, and he was hobbling around the table during play.

[21] In an attempt to limit the spot stroke, the "Championship" table was introduced, which had the pocket openings reduced to three inches.

From around 1890 until 1898, on at least ten separate occasions, Peall challenged John Roberts to a match on even terms at the ordinary ("all-in") game of English billiards.

[23] On 14 January 1889, at the Royal Aquarium, Mitchell became the "spot stroke champion" and made an unfinished break of 987 against Peall that contained 319 pots.

[26] Roberts and many others, realised the damage that breaks such as this may have caused to the sport, by making it tiresome and monotonous for spectators to watch.

[29] At a meeting on 28 April 1891, to reconcile both parties the Billiards Association decided to create two championships, one for all-in, and another for spot-barred.

[30] The association also standardised the dimensions of a billiard table, setting templates for pocket openings to three and a half inches.

Roberts won against Charles Dawson by 1,814 points, in a match lasting over two weeks, finishing on 3 April 1899.

[38] In 1878 he toured India and knowing that Ram Singh II, Maharajah of Jaipur was a fan, he travelled to meet him.

Roberts ended up with an annual salary of £500 after being appointed "Court Billiard Player" by the Maharajah on 11 February 1878.

[3] He made many tours of Australia and New Zealand, in 1876 playing a series of matches against South Australian champion Herman A.

[42] Roberts went on a tour of North America in 1893, playing the American champion Frank Ives, at the Central Music Hall Chicago in September.