In the history of sports, there are few matches that make the whole world hold its breath waiting like the battle of the century between two legends: "The Magician" Efren Reyes - the immortal monument of billiards, and Steve Davis - the cool king who dominated the snooker village throughout the 80s. When the news of the match between two icons of two different sports was confirmed, not only billiards and snooker fans but also experts could not sit still. A collision between two worlds, two styles, two master minds - all gathered in the match called "Battle of the Century".
Efren "Bata" Reyes from the Philippines, is not only a multiple world champion but also the person who turned billiards into a true art. Nicknamed "The Wizard", Reyes not only wins with strength but also with intelligence, strategy and unpredictable shots. His composure, sharp eyes and extraordinary table reading ability made anyone who faced him feel like they were up against a supernatural force.
And Steve Davis - the quiet but fearsome Englishman, 6-time world snooker champion, is an irreplaceable symbol of the golden age of British snooker. Unlike Reyes, Davis played with absolute precision, calculated like a machine and a "deadly" playing style because of discipline. While Reyes was likened to a free artist, Davis was like an unerring logic machine.
It was this contrast that created the unbelievable attraction for the match. On one side was unlimited creativity, on the other side was precise tactics. Can the beauty of improvisation overcome iron discipline? Or on the contrary, can rigidity resolve miracles?
On the day of the match, the stands were packed. Everyone present knew they were about to witness one of the greatest moments in the history of combat sports. Both legends walked onto the court with calm faces, but everyone could feel the tension spreading in the air.
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The match was divided into two parts: the first part was played according to traditional snooker rules, the second part was played according to 9-ball pool rules. This was a special point that made the match even more dramatic, because each player would play to their strengths, but also had to face their weaknesses.
Steve Davis entered the match firmly, controlling the pace of the match perfectly. His standard "safety" shots, calculated "break" shots put Reyes in a passive position. With more than 40 years of experience at the snooker tables, Davis overwhelmed the audience with his tactical shots and classy break sequences. But Reyes was not easily defeated. Even though it wasn’t his forte, he still made Davis sweat with some incredible saves, especially a three-cushion cushion shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Davis led after the snooker round, but the score wasn’t too far apart – and that pleased Efren fans. Because they knew: the 9-ball pool was where Reyes really turned the billiards table into his own stage.
When he switched to 9-ball, the stage lit up. Reyes transformed into a magician, gentle, calm but terrifyingly dangerous. In just the first few rounds, he performed three top combos in a row, breaking every defense Davis tried to set up. Davis may be a master strategist, but 9-ball pool is where intuition and the ability to handle situations flexibly – something Reyes did very well.
One of the moments that made the audience “hold their breath” was when Reyes faced an extremely difficult ball position – the 7-ball was close to the wall, the angle of the shot was almost impossible. But Reyes used a three-cushion reverse shot, the 7-ball arced and fell perfectly into the pocket. The entire audience stood up, Steve Davis could only shake his head and laugh – because when standing in front of a genius, sometimes you can only… admire.
At the end of the match, Reyes won the overall match with a close score. But what made the match a “Battle of the Century” was not just the result, but the way the two legends demonstrated class, professionalism and noble sportsmanship.
Steve Davis approached Reyes and shook his hand with a respectful smile. “I have played against hundreds of opponents in my life, but no one like him,” Davis shared. Reyes only humbly replied: “I grew up watching him play. Today I am honored to stand on the same court with a legend.”
The match ended not only with beautiful shots, but with the image of two great men, who once stood at the top of the world, exchanging the handshake of true legends.
