In the world of billiards, no one can deny the natural talent and top skills of Efren “Bata” Reyes – the man affectionately known as “The Magician” around the world. But in a dramatic match between him and a young player from Japan, fans witnessed a completely different version of Efren – an Efren full of anger, burning with fighting spirit, and launching shots so fast that it was almost impossible to control. A match that made people present at the scene exclaim: “UNCONTROLLED!” – he was on fire and destroying his opponent without mercy.
It all started from a peaceful afternoon at an international tournament taking place in Tokyo. The young Japanese player – hailed as the new hope of Asian billiards – entered the semi-final match with arrogant confidence.
Under the bright lights of the arena, he did not hesitate to tell the press: "I respect Mr. Reyes, but today will be the day he stops." That seemingly innocuous statement unintentionally ignited a fierce explosion from the Filipino man who had held hundreds of world titles.
From the very first minutes, the atmosphere in the auditorium seemed to freeze. Reyes stepped onto the table with an unprecedentedly cold face. No longer the calm Efren as usual, he walked decisively, his eyes as sharp as a razor. And when the first ball rolled on the table, everything suddenly caught fire.
Reyes did not wait. He did not hesitate. He fired like a continuously loaded cannon. Each shot was launched with incredible speed. There was no delay. There was no long-term consideration. Only reflexes, instincts, and decades of experience made a legend. Cross shots, daring balls that hit the ice, and even “kick shots” that even computers had trouble predicting.
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The young Japanese was stunned. He had probably never faced an opponent who played so fast, and worse – someone as completely “unpredictable” as Efren. In the first few shots, Reyes took an unbelievable lead. The crowd barely had time to blink. As soon as one shot ended, another one began. He gave his opponent no time to breathe, to prepare, to think. It was in that breathtaking speed that he created a whirlwind of destruction.
An older spectator whispered: “I’ve watched Reyes play for decades, but I’ve never seen him like this. He’s not playing to win, but to send a message: ‘Never underestimate me.’”
And that message was sent more clearly than ever.
The Japanese player started making mistakes. The pressure from Reyes' speed and form made it impossible for him to stay calm. He missed seemingly simple opportunities. Every time Reyes returned to the table, he made the audience burst into tears with an unbelievable shot: sometimes a three-cushion white ball, sometimes a carom that went across the table, then a combo "ball-eating" accurate to the millimeter. No one could stop that artistic rage.
On social networks, the match quickly spread at a dizzying speed. The billiards community around the world talked: "Reyes is exploding!" - "He is like a machine!" - "I have never seen anyone destroy an opponent so quickly and neatly!" One fan commented: "This is no longer a billiards match. This is a performance of genius!"
Interestingly, despite his speed, Reyes's every shot was still calculated, strategic and sophisticated. There was no sloppiness. No mistakes. That is the difference between an angry man and a legend who is “igniting” his fighting spirit.
When the match ended, the scoreboard showed an absolute victory for Reyes – a difference of 9 strokes. The Japanese player left the table in silence, not answering the press. He bowed his head – not because of defeat, but because he was overwhelmed by a man who had overcome time and age and was still an invincible monument.
Reyes, after the match, just smiled gently and answered the reporters with his usual modesty: “I just played like every day. But maybe today I felt I needed to react more strongly.”
And yes, he reacted. Not with words, but with shots that made the whole world take off their hats. That match, more than a victory, reminded everyone that: no matter who you are, where you come from, how old you are – if you dare to challenge a legend, be ready to face the miracle he can create at any time.
“Uncontrolled” does not mean losing control. For Reyes, it is the ultimate state of freedom – where he is not bound by limits, not hindered by expectations, and where the cue in his hand becomes a magic wand – igniting the passion of millions of billiards lovers around the world.
