The stadium was dead silent. Every breath seemed to be suffocated in the space as tense as a bowstring. On the table, two of the most famous players in the world were fighting not only for victory, but also for honor, for fame, for legacy - and for something greater than that: immortality in the world of billiards.
It was a life-or-death match between living legend Efren "Bata" Reyes and the most cold-blooded and precise player in Europe - Nick Van Den Berg. But no one expected that what happened on the table that day would be historic. An inhuman performance, where human limits were erased by the magic of "The Magician" - Efren Reyes.
Right from the start, the atmosphere of the match was unusual. The audience was packed, everyone knew that this was not just a simple semi-final or final match. This was the “fateful battle” – where Reyes’ legend was fiercely challenged by Van Den Berg – who once declared: “I will not give him any chance to hit a magic shot today.”
The match started with Nick Van Den Berg dominating. He played precisely, calculating each shot like a machine, not leaving any openings. Nick’s continuous clearing of the table made many spectators start to worry about Efren. They whispered to each other: “Maybe today the miracle will not appear…”
Reyes remained silent. He sat there, his eyes seemed to penetrate the table, his hand lightly gripping the cue stick. No one knew what he was thinking, but everyone felt a wave of terrifying silence enveloping him. Nick was leading at that time, and only needed a few more wins to end the match with a difference in score. But then… the unthinkable happened.
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When Reyes finally got his chance to step into the pool after a rare mistake by Van Den Berg, the crowd held its breath. A very difficult pool table. A challenging cue ball position. But Efren was not fazed, nor did he need much time. With a light touch that seemed to be drawing an artistic stroke, he sent the cue ball past the two blocks and into the pocket as if “enchanted”. The crowd gasped in amazement. The shot was so smooth, so soft, so unbelievable. That was just the beginning.
Reyes began to “go into the spirit”. With each shot, the crowd exploded. He created runs that looked like something out of a science fiction movie, hitting the wall three times and returning to the perfect position for the next shot. The commentator had to exclaim: “This is not a human being competing, this is an artist from another planet!”
Van Den Berg began to be overwhelmed by the pressure. Each time it was his turn, he could feel the heat of the shots that had just happened. His trademark coolness began to melt. And then the mistake came again – this time a simple miss. The whole room knew: Reyes had completely taken control of the match.
He seemed to no longer belong to this world. His illogical shots, unbelievable ball movements, and absolute precision left no chance for his opponent to fight back. From a losing team, Reyes made an unbelievable comeback. Every time Van Den Berg had a chance to come back, Reyes immediately “locked” him with defensive and tactical shots that gave the audience goosebumps.
What was special was that Reyes not only played well, but also made his opponent lose his mental direction. Nick Van Den Berg, who had won many European titles, stood still after a “backspin” shot that caused the white ball to just avoid the block ball and hit the target ball close to the edge. He sighed, smiled faintly, and shook his head. The camera caught the image, and it quickly became an iconic moment: “When greatness makes the strong submit.”
Reyes finished the match with an incredible shot – the cue ball ran around the table, touched three edges, and slipped through the narrow gap between the two balls to put the 9 ball in the corner pocket to the absolute amazement of the entire audience. The applause was thunderous. Many people stood up, shouting: “MAGICIAN! MAGICIAN!”
Nick Van Den Berg approached, shook Reyes’ hand, his face still in shock. He whispered something to Reyes that no one could hear. But later in the press conference, Nick said:
“I played one of the best matches of my career. But he… wasn’t human.”
The match was more than just a victory. It was a declaration of greatness, a display of genius, a reminder that art and sport can blend into one living masterpiece. With that match, Reyes not only earned recognition as “The Magician,” but also officially laid the foundation for the legend that is Efren Bata Reyes – a man that every player looks up to with the utmost respect.
