In the glittering, high-stakes atmosphere of the Derby City Classic 2004 Final, a wave of doubt quietly spread among spectators, commentators, and even a few seasoned professionals. Was Efren âBataâ Reyes finally past his prime? Could the Filipino wizard still perform against the brutal pressure of a rising star from Mexicoânicknamed the Sharpshooter, known for his aggressive style, pinpoint potting, and no-fear attitude?
It was a clash billed as new versus old, fire versus calm, explosive precision versus strategic genius. But by the end of the match, there was no question left unanswered. The greatest pool player of all time didnât just winâhe made the whole world remember why heâs called âThe Magician.â
The Underdog... Was Efren?
Coming into the DCC 2004 final, the Mexican contender was riding a wave of dominance. He had sliced through the field with authority, earning a reputation for crushing safeties, long-range firepower, and a break that could shake the rails. On paper, he had momentum. Social media buzzed (even in its early stages), and fans began whispering that Reyes was finally too slow, too careful, and perhaps too old-school to stand against such modern aggression.
But if thereâs one mistake pool players have made over and over againâitâs underestimating Efren Reyes.
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The Match Begins: A Stormy Opening
The opening racks were intense. The Mexican sharpshooter broke with fury, potting balls like a machine. For a moment, it looked like the doubters were rightâEfren trailed early and couldnât find rhythm. He sat in his chair expressionless, watching racks disappear. The energy shifted. Commentators started speculating about a possible upset. A few fans even walked away to buy snacks.
But thenâit happened.
Cue the Magic: Reyes Awakens
Like a tiger stirring in the jungle, Efren rose from his chair with a slight stretch and a calm breath. And then, with the kind of confidence only a master possesses, he unleashed magic.
In one of the most remarkable sequences of the tournament, Efren found himself with a nightmare layout: balls frozen to rails, no clean lines, the cue ball awkwardly positioned near a pocket. But instead of playing safe, he leaned forward, chalked his cue, and executed a stunning 4-rail kick shot that not only made contact with the object ballâit sank it cleanly and set up position for the next shot.
Gasps erupted across the crowd. The Mexican sharpshooter paused, eyebrows raised, stunned. The match had changed.
Tactical Brilliance and Shotmaking Genius
From that moment, Reyes took over. Not with flashy celebrations or loud reactions, but with pure shot-making genius. He began dismantling the table in ways only he couldâthrough angles that seemed mathematically impossible, using spin techniques that turned the cue ball into a heat-seeking missile.
He pulled off:
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A frozen bank shot off the long rail into the corner, using drag-spin.
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A jump masse hybrid, curving the cue ball over an obstacle and landing dead-on for a perfect cut.
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A defensive safety so precise, it locked his opponent out of the table for three racks straight.
Fans were no longer sittingâthey were standing. Phones were recording. Even commentators gave up analyzing and started reacting like fans.
The Sharpshooter Shakes
To his credit, Mexicoâs sharpshooter never gave up. He fought with heart, made great runs, and at times looked like he could close the gap. But Efrenâs rhythm was now too smooth, too wise, too... inevitable. Every mistake the young star made was punished with brutal elegance. And as the tension built toward the final racks, the body language said it allâthe Mexican player looked frustrated, as if he had stepped into a trap he never saw coming.
He tried to slow the pace. He tried to rush. He changed breaks. Nothing worked.
The Final Blow
In the final rack, Efren faced a layout that required complete control and strategic awareness. He calmly played three safeties in a row, forcing the young player into a miss. And when the moment came, Reyes didnât go for drama. He simply cleaned the table with surgical skill. No flare. No unnecessary force. Just⊠brilliance.
The crowd erupted as the last ball dropped. Reyes smiled gently, bowed his head slightly, and walked awayâlike he had just finished a practice session. The arena, however, knew they had just witnessed a masterpiece.
Post-Match Reactions
The young Mexican star, to his immense credit, praised Reyes afterward, saying:
âI thought I was ready. I thought I could outshoot him. But he showed me thereâs another level I havenât even reached yet.â
Fans flooded billiard forums and early online platforms with messages like:
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âThat wasnât pool. That was poetry.â
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âIâll never forget that bank shot in rack 6. Unreal.â
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âHow can a man play like that at 50?â
Even veteran pros chimed in with respect, many admitting they wouldâve folded under the layout pressure Reyes faced.
The Legacy Grows
The DCC 2004 Final wasnât just a matchâit was a reminder. A reminder that you never count out a legend. That under all the stats, technology, and hype of the new generation, there still exists an art form called âfeeling the table.â And Efren Reyes remains its undisputed master.
This match went down in history as not only one of the most expensive and high-stakes finals ever but also one of the most elegant displays of cue mastery the world has ever seen.
They thought he was finished.
They thought he was too old.
They thought the future had arrived.
But in just a few magical racks, Efren âBataâ Reyes showed the world that greatness doesn't age. It only deepens.
