In the world of top-level billiards, where talent, composure and experience are the three elements that make up legends, few names can compare to Efren "Bata" Reyes, who is known as “The Magician”. With hundreds of international titles, extraordinary technique and unpredictable playing style, he is an immortal icon in the hearts of fans. But on a fateful afternoon during an international tournament broadcast live, a shocking event occurred: a young, up-and-coming player publicly declared to the media that he was superior to Reyes and would easily defeat the legend.
That player was Ryan Mitchell, a 22-year-old from the United States, an emerging talent highly regarded by many experts for his powerful, confident strokes and modern playing style. At the pre-match press conference, Ryan made the audience roar when he said:
“I watched Reyes play. He is a legend, but his era is over. I am faster, more precise and have better tactics. This match will not be difficult for me.”
That statement spread like wildfire on social networks, creating a wave of fierce controversy. Reyes fans felt offended, thinking that Ryan was arrogant, disrespectful and was underestimating the living legend of billiards. Meanwhile, a part of the youth was excited about Ryan’s “bravery”, seeing this as a confrontation between the new and old generations – a battle of the era.
When the match started, the atmosphere in the audience became suffocating. Ryan entered with utmost confidence, constantly smiling and looking at Reyes as if to affirm: “Your time is over.” As for Efren Reyes, he was as usual – calm, gentle, with a quiet gaze and a gentle smile. He did not respond to the provocation, because Reyes had long since let his skills do the talking.
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Ryan started the match quite impressively. In good form, he quickly took the advantage and led 2-0. The audience began to talk, was Ryan right? Was Reyes' time really over?
But like a dramatic novel, everything changed from the third game. Reyes started to really get into the game. He not only responded with precise shots, but also with extraordinary tactical balls, putting Ryan in extremely difficult situations. The atmosphere went from noisy to quiet – the audience was mesmerized by Reyes's art of ball control and his superb ability to read the game.
Ryan started to slow down. His shots were no longer as accurate as before. He seemed to not understand what was going on. Every time it was his turn, he was faced with extremely complicated positions – all the result of Reyes’ magical arrangements. Each of his shots was not only beautiful, but also full of strategy – making his opponent fall into a trap without realizing it.
From a 0-2 deficit, Reyes made a spectacular breakthrough and scored 6 consecutive games, raising the score to 6-2. The audience exploded. The whole world witnessed the peak performance of a legend – who, even at the age of over 60, could still defeat young talents with timeless sophistication and class.
Ryan, at this time, was no longer the confident player. His face was tense, sweat was dripping, and his shots began to go astray. The pressure of millions of eyes, combined with the feeling of helplessness against an opponent he had once underestimated, made Ryan completely lose himself.
The game ended with a score of 9-3 in favor of Efren Reyes. The moment Reyes made the final shot, ending the match with a miraculous “bank shot” that made the audience stand up and applaud in a loud cheer. As for Ryan, he was speechless, bowing his head to shake his opponent’s hand, speechless.
In the post-match interview, Ryan admitted:
“I was too confident. I thought I knew everything about billiards… until I met Efren Reyes.”
As for Reyes, as usual, he was modest:
“He is a good player, I was just luckier today. Never think you are the best, because there is always something new to learn every day.”
The event quickly became a global phenomenon. The press, fans and experts all praised Reyes’ performance as a “life lesson” for the younger generation – not only about technique, but also about sportsmanship, humility and respect for those who have gone before.
This match was not just a victory, but also an affirmation that true class cannot be easily replaced by confidence or speed. Reyes did not need much to say. He only needed his cue, his balls and a few meters of green to prove that “magic” is real – as long as you have enough patience, enough respect and enough passion to pursue it to the end.
