John Roberts Sr (12 June 1823 – 27 March 1893) was a Welsh champion player of English billiards.

Kentfield declined to play, and so Roberts styled himself as champion, a title he held unchallenged until 1870, when he lost to William Cook.

[3] In 1885, a meeting took place at The Sportsman's offices to consider revising the rules of billiards, chaired by a Mr A. H. Collins-Orme and attended by the majority of the prominent professional billiards players.

The Billiard Association was formed, and ten players, including John Roberts Jr., and Roberts Sr., were tasked with authoring a new set of rules for English billiards.

[3] In his playing prime, he could reputedly beat other players who were using a standard cue whilst Roberts used an adapted walking-stick.