In the world of billiards, there are names that resonate like legends – and among them, the name Efren “Bata” Reyes is always mentioned with absolute respect. At the age of 68, many people believe that he will retire behind the scenes, living his days of rest in fame. But no – Reyes has not lost his passion, and he proved it eloquently in a particularly thrilling cash match against a young star from Morocco – a rising player who is expected to make a big splash in the world of billiards. But no one could have expected that, instead of easily defeating a “veteran”, the young man would receive a painful lesson from the “green table magician” himself – Efren Reyes.
The match was held at a famous billiards club in Asia, attracting a large audience from many countries. When news broke that “The Magician” would be returning to the ring in a money match, fans flocked to witness the magic of this legendary cue. His opponent was Karim El-Baz – a young player from Morocco, only 25 years old but already owning a series of regional titles and being dubbed the “new wind” of African billiards.
From the start, Karim was extremely confident. With his youth, agility and modern technique, he believed he would defeat Reyes – a man he had watched on YouTube and thought “too old to keep up with the current high-speed style of play.” He openly said in the pre-match press conference: “I have a lot of respect for him, but I am here to win. Youth will beat experience today.”
However, the court is not the place for arrogance.
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Right from the first shots, Reyes showed his composure, precision, and classic yet magical style of play that only he has. No need for fancy tricks, no need for terrifying speed – Reyes played with his head and heart. His shots were gentle but tricky, carefully calculated, and especially his ability to place the ball (position play) was so perfect that Karim could only stand and watch in disbelief.
The audience exploded many times because of Reyes' "impossible" shots. There were situations that seemed to have no way out – the ball was stuck to the rail, the position was extremely difficult – but he still launched spectacular shots, leaving both the audience and his opponents gasping in amazement. One fan exclaimed: "He's not hitting the ball – he's controlling the ball with magic!"
What makes people respect Reyes even more is not only his technique, but his competitive spirit. Despite his age, he was not fazed by the pressure, but rather calmer than ever. He smiled, chatted gently with the audience, and always showed respect for his young opponent. That attitude made Karim – a confident player – gradually become tense and confused. He kept making mistakes in important shots, while Reyes increasingly showed the maturity of a living legend.
The match lasted nearly 3 hours, with the atmosphere as tense as a world final. Karim tried his best, at times keeping close to the score, but small mistakes prevented him from surpassing the man he once considered “past his prime.” In the deciding game, Reyes executed an incredibly complex combo – a perfect 3-cushion shot – and when the 9 ball sank into the pocket, the whole audience exploded. Karim could only bow his head in admiration, while Reyes smiled his usual gentle smile – as if he had just taught a nephew a lesson in patience and respect.
After the match, Karim came to shake Reyes’ hand and bowed his head to apologize: “I was wrong to underestimate you. You are truly a living legend.” Reyes, with his inherent modesty, just patted the young man on the shoulder and said: “You are still young, keep your passion and practice a lot. Billiards is a game not only of muscles but also of mind and heart.”
This match quickly went viral on social media, becoming a widely shared video with millions of views in just a few days. Billiards forums everywhere exploded with comments, with endless praise for Reyes. People called him “The Eternal Magician” – the eternal magician. One notable comment read: “You can’t beat something that doesn’t grow old inside. Reyes didn’t just hit the ball – he breathed life into every shot.”
