In the world of billiards, there are many great players who have made history with their precise shots, superb tactics and amazing skills. However, if we had to choose a truly legendary name, far beyond the limits of a normal athlete, Efren “Bata” Reyes would definitely be the first name to be mentioned.
Not only because of his huge record, but also because of the way he played – as if magic was happening right before his eyes. And recently, Reyes stunned the world with a performance that was likened to “living magic”, leaving his opponents silent, the audience erupting, and the online community going crazy.
The match took place at a friendly exhibition tournament but attracted a huge number of viewers. Everyone was looking forward to seeing “The Wizard” Reyes compete, even though he was now entering his twilight years. What no one expected, however, was that Reyes didn’t just play – he dominated, he taught, and he left people in disbelief.
Reyes’ opponent in this match was a young, confident player who had emerged as a phenomenon in the European billiards scene. In the pre-match interview, this player even said that he wanted to “see if the legend still had the magic.” It was a somewhat arrogant challenge – and soon, he paid dearly.
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From the very first shots, Efren Reyes had the entire hall fall into absolute silence. A three-sided shot, sending the cue ball on a complicated path but landing perfectly, down to the millimeter. The audience erupted, while his opponent stood frozen, unable to believe that he was facing a man nearly 70 years old. And that was just the beginning.
What made Reyes different was not just his ball-playing skills – but also his tactical genius. In a seemingly inescapable situation, with the cue ball sandwiched between three object balls and a very narrow corner of the table, one would have thought he would play it safe. But no. Reyes crouched low, looked over the edge of the table, and unleashed an “anti-physics” shot that sent the cue ball flying over both edges of the table, spinning in the opposite direction, and knocking out the object ball in spectacular fashion.
The audience in the arena stood up and applauded. Some even covered their mouths in shock. The commentators kept shouting: “Unbelievable! This is not a random shot! This is art!”
His opponent, the young upstart, no longer had the confidence. He kept making mistakes, his mentality clearly wavering. Because when you compete with someone who is on a different level – not a person, but a living legend – the pressure is no longer on winning or losing, but on how not to become ordinary in front of millions of people.
Efren Reyes continued his “magic” journey throughout the match. He used shots that almost only he dared to perform. A left-handed shot – not because he is left-handed – but because the ball was in a difficult position. And yet that shot was still a perfect success. Or an extremely difficult “masse”, bending the cue ball as if by magic, hitting the target in a position where 99% of professional players would give up.
The final result goes without saying – Reyes won overwhelmingly. But what remained after the match was not the score, but the emotion. The emotions of thousands of fans present at the scene, millions of people watching via livestream, and young players who dream of one day standing on par with Reyes.
Perhaps the most special thing about Reyes is his composure. After each magical shot, he does not celebrate, does not get arrogant, simply smiles - as if he knows that it is what he was born to do. A true genius - humble, gentle, but leaves the whole world amazed.
International media reported the news in unison. Headlines were filled with phrases like "Living Magic", "Unbelievable Shot", "70-Year-Old Man Takes the World's Breath." On forums, fans left thousands of comments: "I shed tears when I saw that shot", "Reyes is the reason I started loving billiards", "No one can repeat what he did." Someone even wrote: “If billiards is a religion, then Reyes is a god.”
Currently, although he no longer competes at the highest level regularly, Reyes is still invited all over the world to perform, exchange, and inspire. For many people, just sitting and watching him play live once is an unforgettable experience in their lives.
Reyes’ career is a symbol of perseverance, natural talent, and boundless love for the profession. There is no need to compete for youth or fame anymore – Reyes has it all – but he continues to compete for his love of billiards. And that love has, is, and will continue to inspire many future generations.
