Las Vegas, 2006. In a glittering, spotlight-lit arena at the International Pool Tour (IPT), the atmosphere was thick before one of the most dramatic confrontations in pool history: Earl “The Pearl” Strickland, with his trademark aggressive and arrogant style, faced off against Efren “The Magician” Reyes, a quiet but dangerous icon from the Philippines.
The encounter was more than just a pool match. It was a symbol of two opposing schools of thought. Strickland — the American with his harsh words, provocative attitude and powerful technique. Reyes — the Filipino with his enigmatic style, magical shots and charming humility.
From the very beginning, Strickland showed impatience. After every unlucky shot, he grimaced, grumbled, shook his head as if the universe was against him. And every time Reyes made a successful shot — especially one that seemed “impossible” — Strickland could not hide his frustration.
In the third set, after a very difficult table tennis break that Reyes executed with an incredible backspin that sent the white ball around three blocks and into the ideal position to end the match, Strickland suddenly shouted:
“You’re just lucky, Efren! That’s not skill — that’s pure LUCK!”
The crowd fell silent for a few seconds. A few awkward laughs rang out. A few Strickland fans applauded, but most of the audience — who had come to admire Reyes’s masterful technique — just looked at each other, stunned. The umpire stepped forward to remind Strickland to calm down.
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And Reyes? He just smiled slightly. No reaction, no argument. He walked back to the table, bent down, and looked at the next ball.
And then the magic happened.
Efren Reyes began a series of moves that had the IPT 2006 audience in a trance. A break across the two corners of the table, the white ball “snaking like a snake” back to the center position. A bank shot hit back and the cue ball then flowed smoothly across the table, stopping right at the sweet spot to continue the next move. Then a Masse shot sent the object ball through the extremely narrow gap between the two blocking balls, seemingly impossible.
The applause was thunderous. People could no longer sit still. Reyes was performing, but it was not a chance performance. It was the pinnacle of technique, intelligence and billiards feeling to an extraordinary level.
And when Reyes put the black 8 ball into the final pocket, ending the game with a victory, he turned to Strickland, still with a slight smile, and said loud enough for everyone to hear:
“Earl… if that is luck, then I hope I stay that lucky forever.”
The crowd erupted. The audience stood up and applauded like thunder. A simple but powerful statement, like a deep and dignified response to the insult. And then, the camera captured the image of Strickland silent for a few seconds, biting his lip, turning his face away. Perhaps, he also understood that he had just been “taught a lesson” — not by words, but by top-notch billiards.
The match continued with a pause from Strickland. It seemed that he was affected by the atmosphere supporting Reyes and his own high expectations. Meanwhile, Reyes played more and more sublimely. His soft ball control, his dead-angle shots with delicate hand strength made even the commentators exclaim: “This is not billiards anymore, this is magic.”
A notable point is that Reyes almost did not show any emotion when playing. Whether winning or facing difficulties, he still kept a calm, focused, gentle expression. In stark contrast to Strickland – who constantly complained, waved his arms, shook his head, talked to himself, and even looked up at the ceiling as if seeking “justice” from the Supreme Being.
At the end of the match, Reyes won with a convincing score. The audience once again stood up and applauded for a long time. When the reporter interviewed Reyes after the match, asking if he felt Strickland had disrespected him by saying he was “just lucky,” Reyes laughed and replied:
“I’ve played thousands of games. If I was just lucky, I think I would have gone home a long time ago.”
This confrontation quickly became a hot topic on billiards forums around the world. The video of Reyes’s brilliant play was widely shared, and the phrase “I hope I’ll always be that lucky” became a legendary phrase associated with him from then on.
Strickland, despite his reputation for impulsiveness and strong personality, admitted after the match:
“I hate to admit it… but Reyes is so good. He sees things that other people don’t see.”
The competition between the two legends was not just a match to determine victory or defeat. It was a battle between emotion and composure, between chaos and order, between ego and art. And in that battle, Efren “The Magician” Reyes won not only by points, but also by character, quality and class.
