In the world of precision shots and high-level tactics on the billiards table, there are moments that are not just about winning or losing – but about life lessons. One of those moments came in the shocking confrontation between living legend Efren “Bata” Reyes and Ko Ping Chung, the young champion from Taiwan who has been dubbed the “young genius” of the modern pool world.
Ko Ping Chung, with his superb skills and cool-headed competitive spirit, entered the match with the mindset of a future ruler. He was expected to inherit the throne, defeat the old monuments and shape a new era for world billiards. No one doubted Ko’s talent – ​​speed, precision, smart strategy, he had it all. But there is one thing that youth cannot have right away – that magic called experience, which can only be learned from people like Efren Reyes – the man the world calls “The Billiard Wizard.”
The match took place in a tense and eager atmosphere. Ko Ping Chung entered the game strongly, executing extremely precise breaks and runs, constantly forcing Reyes into a defensive position. The audience began to whisper: “Maybe this time, time has caught up with him…” But Efren Reyes, with his calm appearance, deep eyes and meaningful smile, did not come to lose – he came to teach.
The fifth game marked a turning point. Ko Ping Chung had the opportunity to end the game with a not-so-difficult shot – but instead of choosing a safe solution, he decided to make a showy, somewhat arrogant shot, as if to prove that he could “play like Reyes.” Billiards is a game of confidence, but also a game of humility. The pool table is unforgiving to those who underestimate it. Ko’s shot missed slightly… and the 9 ball stopped just short of the pocket.
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The room held its breath. Efren Reyes stepped up to the table. No one said anything, no need to say anything. He just leaned forward, his eyes focused on the cue ball, as if he saw things that others couldn’t. And then, the magic shot appeared – a three-cushion carom, which sent the white ball lightly touching the object ball, then skimming two cushions before sending the object ball gently into the corner pocket.
The room erupted in applause. Ko Ping Chung stood motionless. He couldn’t believe that the old man before him, who he had thought was past his prime, had just executed a shot that even those in their prime wouldn’t dare attempt. But the game wasn’t over yet – that was only the beginning of the lesson Reyes wanted to teach.
In the following games, Reyes completely dominated the game. He used all his skills – from table control, ball path calculation, to extremely subtle defensive tactics. His shots were no longer simply sports – they became the language of magic, like gentle but powerful whispers sent to his young opponent: “You may be fast, but I can see things you have never seen.”
After a while, Ko Ping Chung began to be confused. He no longer dared to play as boldly as at the beginning of the match. Every shot was accompanied by caution. Cracks began to appear in the young champion’s mentality, and Reyes – like a patient professor – gradually expanded the lesson with vivid examples right on the table.
In the tenth game, when Ko had a chance to turn the game around, Reyes suddenly… stood up, smiled slightly and said a sentence to the referee (recorded by the stage microphone): “For him to play, he needs to understand the pressure that comes from the choice itself.” Ko heard and bowed his head slightly. He understood that this match was not just about winning – it was a rite of passage into adulthood.
When the final game ended with Reyes winning, the audience stood up and applauded. Ko Ping Chung approached, shook Reyes’s hand with both hands, bowed deeply – an act of respect from a young person to a senior. No one mentioned Ko’s defeat anymore, because in everyone’s eyes, he had won the most important thing – the arrogance of youth and the lesson from a living legend.
After the match, the press was full of headlines: “Ko Ping Chung Learned the Greatest Thing from Efren Reyes: Attitude and Vision.” In a short interview, Reyes shared:
“I’m not here to win or lose anymore. I’m here to pass on what I’ve spent my whole life learning: patience, humility and the art of billiards.”
That’s why Reyes is more than just a player – he’s an icon, a teacher, a living legend. In that match, he didn’t just beat a young talent – ​​he passed on some of his magic to the next generation.
