In a classic match that the entire billiards world will never forget, "The Wizard" Efren "Bata" Reyes once again proved why he is considered the greatest player of all time. With his superb skills, masterful tactical thinking and incredible ability to handle situations, Efren Reyes amazed the audience by launching a series of extremely accurate safe kicks - perfect defensive shots that trapped his opponent and left him completely helpless.
The match started with a tense atmosphere. Reyes' opponent was a young player from Europe - who had defeated many top players in recent tournaments and was dubbed "The Breaker of Tradition". With a modern, fast and daring style of play, he entered the match full of confidence, thinking that this was the time for the new generation to overthrow the legend.
But Reyes – who has conquered hundreds of tournaments, big and small, and has met countless formidable opponents in his decades-long career – was not shaken. Right from the first shots, he showed an uncanny composure. Reyes did not only play with skill, he played with heart, intuition and the billiards magic that he had practiced all his life.
One of the most memorable highlights of the match was the series of safe kicks – extremely difficult shots, requiring not only technique but also absolute precision in angle, force and calculation of the ball's response.
In the fourth round, when his opponent proactively put the target ball in a difficult position to challenge Reyes, many people thought that the Filipino legend would be stuck. But no. Reyes stood still for a few seconds, observing the table as if reading a book. Then he ducked, executed a dangerous kick shot – hitting the ball on the ice, skimming through the narrow gap just enough to hit the target ball, then hiding behind the blocker, creating a perfect defensive position that left his opponent with no way to counterattack.
VIDEO :
The shot sent the audience into a standing ovation. Some couldn’t believe their eyes. The commentator had to repeat the slow-motion replay to analyze the shot. “How did he see that angle?” one exclaimed.
And the amazing thing was – that wasn’t all. The game continued, and Reyes continued to dazzle the audience with safe kick after safe kick. In another situation, when cornered, Reyes used the long ice to kick the ball precisely at the target ball, not only hitting it but also returning it, leaving his opponent with no reasonable choice but to take a risky shot – and he missed, giving Reyes a golden opportunity.
Not everyone understands the complexity behind safe kicks. It was not simply a safe shot, but a combination of strategy, the ability to read the game, and extremely precise physical calculation skills. Reyes practiced thousands of hours to have the perfect hand feel - knowing exactly what force the ball would hit the right rail, react at the right angle, and stop at the right place. It was absolute control - an art.
After the match, the reporter interviewed Reyes about the shot that everyone called "the safe shot of the century". He just smiled gently and said: "I just do what I have done all my life. I play to not make mistakes, and if I can make my opponent make a mistake, that's part of the game."
Simple words, but containing a universe of experience and passion. Reyes did not compete to show off his technique, he competed like an artist who painted a strategic picture with seemingly ordinary shots but contained sharpness down to every millimeter.
Even though the young opponent lost, he could not hide his admiration. “I’ve watched him play on video thousands of times, but playing him live makes me feel the difference,” he said. “Every shot he makes has a clear purpose, nothing is random. And those safe kicks… are truly incredible.”
The match ended with a convincing victory for Reyes. Without the need for spectacular combos, he still overcame his opponent with his intelligent, confident and extremely precise play. Billiards experts around the world immediately called this a “match of tactics”, where defensive shots became weapons that killed the opponent’s hopes.
In the global billiards community, a video compilation of Reyes’ safe kicks in this match went viral. Millions of views, thousands of comments, and everyone agreed on one thing: Reyes has not aged in the minds of fans – he is still the “Billiard Wizard”, who can turn any difficult situation into a vivid work of art.
One prominent online comment read: “You can’t teach someone how Reyes plays a safe kick. You can only sit there and watch him do it and be amazed.”
Ultimately, the match was not just a victory, but a reminder – that the art of pool isn’t about powerful breaks or flashy combos, but about control, patience, and timing. And in that art, Efren Reyes is a master like no other.
