In the illustrious history of billiards, there have been many classic matches, but if we had to choose one confrontation to call "the most classic", it would be the final between two Filipino legends: Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante. This was not only a battle of two legendary cueists, but also a symphony of tactics, emotions, techniques and above all, magical shots that left the world in awe.
The final took place in a stifling atmosphere, with crazy cheers from fans from all over the world. They came not only to see who would win the championship, but also to admire the art of billiards at the highest level - where Efren Reyes, with the title "Wizard", and Bustamante, the man with the strongest break in the world, took the audience on an unpredictable journey.
From the first shots, people felt the tension in every breath. Bustamante entered the match in extremely high form, each of his shots carried incredible power and precision. He led Reyes by 4-1, thanks to powerful smashes that sent the ball flying everywhere and neat cleans. It seemed like everything was leaning towards Django.
But anyone who has ever watched Efren Reyes will understand one thing: never think you have won when Reyes is still holding the cue. In the sixth game, when Bustamante made a seemingly easy shot to clear the table, the 7 ball suddenly bounced off its expected path, opening up a slim opportunity for Reyes. And just like that, he began his journey of making history.
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Bata Reyes stepped onto the table with incredible composure. Not showing any signs of impatience or pressure when behind, he began to deploy his signature tactical style: dodges, skillful ball control, seemingly impossible but incredibly accurate shots. One of the moments that made the whole audience explode was in the eighth game, when Reyes made a three-cushion "kick shot", hitting the cue ball at an angle so narrow that it seemed impossible. The cheers were thunderous, and slow-motion television had to replay the shot because it was so spectacular.
Bustamante, despite his experience and courage, also began to show signs of mental illness. Faced with Reyes's brilliant moves, he lost focus and missed two consecutive shots. Reyes did not miss the opportunity. He rose to a 7-5 lead with extremely accurate shots, each shot a lesson in the art of ball control.
The audience was almost unable to sit still. Emotions surged with each shot. TV commentators repeatedly called Reyes an inspiration, a performer on the table. “This is not pool, this is magic!” – one MC exclaimed after a “masse” shot that caused the cue ball to bend strangely to clear the stuck ball.
The 13th game – considered the “crucial” game of the final match – was when Reyes made an indelible mark. Bustamante had almost cleared the table, with only two balls left to finish the game. But in a moment of lack of power, the cue ball stopped in an awkward position. He decided to hit a “safe” shot to put Reyes in a difficult position. But what Bustamante did not expect was that Reyes saw an opportunity that no one else could have imagined.
He stepped up, looked at it for a long time, then made a “jump shot” – a ball jump – combined with an extremely difficult corner shot. The cue ball jumped over the blocking ball, hit the object ball, and then rolled gently down the pocket as if hypnotized. The whole stadium exploded. The audience stood up. The final match was no longer a match – it became a real magic show.
From that moment on, Reyes seemed to enter a supernatural state. He not only won in points, but also dominated mentally. Bustamante, despite his resilience, could not stop that magical whirlwind. The 17th game – the last game – ended with a perfect “run out” sequence from Reyes, with the cue ball moving as if controlled by GPS. Reyes won the final match with a score of 11-8.
After the match, the two hugged each other in absolute respect. Bustamante, despite losing, still smiled and said: “I lost a match, but won an unforgettable experience. Reyes does not play billiards – he is magic.”
This final match is considered by experts to be the most exciting match in the history of modern billiards. It was not just because of the dramatic score, but because of the emotion and artistry Reyes brought. The seemingly absurd moments happened in front of millions of viewers. It made people believe that there is such a thing as "miracles" in sports.
