On an emotional afternoon at the international billiards tournament being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Filipino legend Efren “Bata” Reyes once again wowed the world by putting on a stellar show and making Indonesia’s number one player bow out in defeat. It was a long-awaited confrontation between a veteran legend and a rising star – and the result was a spectacle that no one in the audience could forget.
The atmosphere was tense from the moment he stepped onto the court. Indonesian fans cheered enthusiastically for their home player, dubbed “The Golden Hope of Southeast Asia”. Meanwhile, Reyes – with his calm demeanor and familiar enigmatic smile – showed no signs of wavering. Despite being in his 60s, his eyes still shone with a strange confidence, as if he had foreseen something that others could not.
The match started at a fast pace as the Indonesian opened with a powerful shot, demonstrating precise technique. The crowd cheered, believing they were about to witness a resounding victory. But they were wrong. When Efren Reyes took his first shot, everything changed.
Reyes’ first shot was not only accurate but also took the breath away. He used the reverse shot technique – a light touch that sent the target ball into the pocket in an “unbelievable” way. The crowd erupted. All eyes were on him. Then came the “screw shot” from a distance, placing the ball in the perfect position for the next shot. The commentator shouted: “Impossible! This is magic, not billiards!”
Throughout the match, Reyes showed his superior class. His shots – from “kick shots”, “bank shots” to “combinations” – were extremely precise and strategic. Each shot was like a piece of music, with rhythm, with a rhythm, and ended with perfection.
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Especially in the fourth round, a situation that seemed impossible to save when the cue ball was stuck behind two blocks. Many people thought he would give up because there was no way to hit. But no – Reyes bent down, measured for a long time, then suddenly executed a “masse shot” that curved at an almost impossible angle. The cue ball drew a smooth curve, glided through the narrow gap and hit the target ball. THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE STANDS UP AND SCREAMS.
Indonesia used to be proud of having a player who could read the table very quickly and had powerful shots. But in this match, even he had to nod in admiration at the performance of the legend. Many times, he could only stand still and watch Reyes complete unstoppable shots. Despite being younger and in top form, Reyes’ experience and flair were clearly unsurpassed.
In the final round, when Reyes was one shot away from winning, the stadium fell silent. No one breathed. And then — “KICH!” — the 9 ball fell into the pocket with a fatalistic ease. Reyes won by a landslide, leaving no chance for his opponent to make a significant counterattack.
But what made this match special was not just the victory, but the way Reyes did it. He was more than a pool player, he was an artist. His shots were art. Each situation was handled with skill, gentleness, but full of damage to his opponent. The fans cheered, laughed, and some even shed tears of emotion — because they witnessed something rare: a master in control of the game.
After the match, Indonesia’s number one player walked up to Reyes and shook his hand. Despite losing, he smiled and said: “I learned a lot. It was an honor to play against you.” Reyes responded with his usual humility: “You are very good. Keep playing with passion.”
The event quickly spread across social media. The clip of Reyes’ “curved masse” shot reached millions of views in just a few hours. Comments like “Magic is real!”, “He is from another planet!”, or “There is no way this will happen again!” appeared everywhere.
Efren “Bata” Reyes once again affirmed why he is called The Magician. Despite the passage of time, despite the emergence of new generations, he remains an eternal symbol of billiards. He is not only good, he inspires – not only wins, he creates emotions.
A match is not just about winning. It was a chapter in the legend of Efren Reyes. And those lucky enough to be in Jakarta that day will remember it forever: They witnessed a miracle unfold on a billiard table – a miracle that made all of Indonesia stand up and shout in admiration.
