In a world of constantly moving sports, where youth is praised and speed is worshiped, a miracle has just happened: Efren “Bata” Reyes, the living legend of the world billiards, at the age of 68, wrote a new chapter in history with an unbelievable victory at the Junior Norris Tournament - a tournament that many believed was only for the next generation. But then, the old man from the Philippines stepped in, quietly, smiling, carrying a magic cue and performing shots that left the world breathless.
This year's Junior Norris Tournament was held in California, USA, gathering a series of young talents from all over the world. Names such as Kevin Liu (China), Tyler Frost (USA), Hayato Kimura (Japan), and a series of other "prodigies" are expected to make history.
But then, all the spotlight gradually turned to one person – Efren Reyes, once known as “The Magician”, who once amazed the world with his unexpected shots.
No one understood why he signed up for this tournament. Some thought he was just there to cheer. Some joked: “You got the schedule wrong!”. But no, Reyes entered the first match, not a bit nervous, as if he had been familiar with all kinds of pressure for the past half century.
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And then, everyone fell silent when he hit a perfect carom that left his young Spanish opponent confused, surprised and finally… nodding in admiration.
From the qualifying round to the final, Efren Reyes did not just compete – he performed art. Unbelievable shots, textbook “kick shots”, enchanting “masses”, and especially the ability to read the table and control the ball like a master.
People do not understand why a man who is nearly 70 years old, with slightly shaking hands, eyes dimmed by time, can compete as if he was at his peak in the 90s.
The semi-final match was a clear proof. Reyes faced Tyler Frost - a young American player only 21 years old, famous for his power and overwhelming playing style. But against a "wizard", all power becomes meaningless. Reyes quietly dodged, defended intelligently, then suddenly launched counter-attacks so accurately that Frost could not believe his eyes.
At one point, the audience saw Reyes point to a specific position on the table - and sure enough, after two touches, the ball fell right there. Magical, cold, and beautiful as a poem.
In the final, he faced Hayato Kimura - Japan's number one player under 25 years old. This is considered the new generation of Asian billiards. But then, the room fell silent as Reyes led 6-1 after only 20 minutes of play. Kimura tried to fight back, but Reyes's tailor-made bank shots and his gentle yet tricky cues all fell apart.
The moment Reyes finally won, the final shot - a masse with an incredible curve through three balls - made the room explode. Even the skeptics, the young fans who had never seen Reyes play at his peak, now had to stand up and applaud. Tears were shed - not because of defeat, but because they had just witnessed a vivid chapter in billiards history.
After the match, in a short press conference, Reyes said simply: "I didn't come here to prove anything. I just wanted to play a few fun games of billiards. But it seems... the cue still remembers me." The whole room burst into laughter, but behind that was an immeasurable respect.
No one calls him “old man” anymore. No one thinks that billiards is a playground for the young. Because for Efren Reyes, age is just a number, and passion and skill – if truly gifted – will never be erased by time.
Reyes’ victory is not just a title. It is a symbol of faith, perseverance and pure love for the sport that he has devoted almost his entire life to. It is a reminder that legends – even if they step aside, even if they are silent for a while – can still come back and do the unthinkable. And above all, it is an inspiration for many generations: keep being passionate, keep pursuing, because miracles are always for those who believe.
