In the world of top billiards, where cues are not just about technique but also art and strategy, every confrontation between two masters always brings breathtaking moments. And in a match that seemed to affirm the class of the Dutch player - Niels Feijen, the unthinkable happened. When he entered the match with absolute confidence, many people thought that the age and the retreat of Efren “Bata” Reyes from the professional arena would make him inferior. But they forgot one important thing: the magic still lives in the hands of “The Magician”.
From the beginning of the match, the contrast between the two players became clear. Niels - young, sharp, showed a cool, calm but pressurized demeanor. He is a famous player with the ability to control the table and methodical tactics. Meanwhile, Reyes – with his calm face, his slight smile and his eyes never leaving the table – stepped up in his usual unassuming manner. But those who know Reyes well know that when he starts to concentrate, magic always lurks.
In the first few games, as expected, Niels Feijen dominated. He had clean clears, powerful and precise shots. The crowd roared as Feijen quickly took the lead, and at one point he appeared so confident that he even smiled at Reyes’s errors. Some in the stands began to shake their heads. “Perhaps Reyes’ time has passed,” one spectator whispered. But Reyes said nothing. He just looked at the table, as if talking to each marble.
And then – the magic began.
In the fourth set, when it seemed that Reyes was cornered, a situation with almost no way out, he made a shot that experts later described as “unbelievable to the naked eye.” An extremely tricky two-cushion bank shot, the ball touched the edge and gently dropped into the pocket as if controlled by supernatural intelligence. The whole stadium exploded. Niels stood still for a few seconds – not because he did not believe Reyes could do it, but because he himself could not imagine how to do it.
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From that moment on, the atmosphere in the match changed completely. Reyes was no longer the weak old man who was behind. He became a precision machine, launching consecutive shots that made both the audience and his opponents widen their eyes. Unbelievable ball paths, shots that used force as light as a feather but had a trajectory accurate to the millimeter – all revived the image of the “Wizard Reyes” of the past, the one who once made a series of world legends bow their heads in admiration.
Niels began to show signs of wavering. The initial confidence gradually faded with each magical shot of Reyes. He lost the precision in his moves, his eyes no longer sparkled with certainty. He even made unnecessary mistakes - a clear sign of the psychological fear of facing a "revived" genius.
The match continued with dramatic points chasing. But what was worth mentioning was not just the score, but the way Reyes played. He did not just play to win, but played to remind the audience that the art of billiards still existed. There was a game where Reyes made a series of four shots that were not simple - all of them were trick shots that only the best players dare to think of. And he did not just think of them - he executed them perfectly.
Feijen, despite being a European champion, had to admit after the match: “I thought I would have an easy match… But I was wrong. Reyes not only played well – he made me feel like an apprentice.” That statement – ​​from a reigning champion – is a testament to the greatness of Reyes, who, even in his 60s, could still light the fire and create miracles on the table.
When the match ended, with Reyes winning, the crowd stood up and applauded like thunder. Not just because he had won, but because they had just witnessed a performance that was rare in the history of billiards. A lesson in arrogance. A symphony of technique, mentality and soul that only a genius like Reyes could convey. And Niels – despite losing – held his head high, because he knew he had just had the honor of facing a living legend.
That match was later called "The Return of the Wizard". It is said that Reyes did not need to compete much – just one appearance was enough to make the world remember that the magic in billiards never disappeared – it just slept in his hands.
