In the world of billiards, there are few names that make every opponent – whether veteran or new – feel both admiration and wariness like Efren 'Bata' Reyes, who is known as "The Magician". In an international friendly tournament held in Germany – where many top players from Europe, Asia and America gathered – the audience was not only satisfied with the top level of expertise but also witnessed a "beautiful and classy" match between the Filipino legend and a German female player whose beauty is so charming that she is considered a "goddess on the billiards table".
The match took place in the vibrant atmosphere of a summer evening in Berlin, where hundreds of spectators packed the stands and millions watched live on television. The German female player, Annaliese Köhler, is not only famous for her gorgeous appearance like a silver screen star but is also considered one of the most potential female players in Germany, with solid technique and strong competitive spirit.
Although she has only emerged in recent years, she has defeated a series of veteran opponents to reach the semi-finals, where fate has forced her to face the living legend of the world - Efren Reyes.
Before the match, the German press was full of headlines like: "Beauty vs. Experience!", "Can Germany's beauty queen make Reyes confused?"... Many people even expected that Annaliese's youth and bold attacking style would create a surprise. However, perhaps they forgot one thing: Efren Reyes does not only play with skill - he plays with soul and magic.
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From the very first shots, Annaliese showed impressive form. She controlled the ball firmly, not flinching in the presence of a great monument. The German audience cheered enthusiastically every time she scored, and for a moment, it seemed like the game was tilting in the host country's favor. At one point, she even led Reyes 4-2 - something that not every player can do.
But then... the unexpected happened. In the 7th game, when Annaliese revealed a seemingly impossible position, Reyes stepped up to the table, squinted at the position, smiled slightly, and then suddenly made a shot... that seemed absurd! Ball number 3 was close to the ice, ball number 5 was blocked by two other balls, there was no clear path to attack. But Reyes, with a sense of space and almost supernatural precision, hit ball number 3, creating a strange curve that made ball number 5 bounce and fall neatly into the bottom left corner pocket - an unimaginable "trickshot".
The whole audience exploded. The German referee was forced to stand still for a few seconds, then raised his hand to confirm the shot was valid. The camera panned to Annaliese's face - she covered her mouth in surprise and then burst out laughing as if she couldn't believe her eyes. The audience stood up and applauded. Some TV commentators exclaimed:
"My God! How could he see that shot? It was magic, not billiards anymore!"
From that moment, the game changed completely. Reyes transformed into a "stage magician", each of his shots was absolutely calculated, each move seemed to be one step ahead of his opponent. But what captivated the audience was not only the accuracy - but the beauty of his tactical thinking and his ability to control the balls differently. Reyes did not simply win, he told a story with each ball on the table.
Although Annaliese played with determination and put on a lot of pressure, she gradually lost the game against the "tsunami" named Reyes and lost with a final score of 7-5. However, after the match, she still smiled brightly and went to shake Reyes' hand, even hugging him like a sincere fan. She shared with the media:
"Playing against Reyes was not just a match - but a moment of a lifetime. I learned more in just one hour than in a whole year of training!"
German and international media widely reported: "The Magician Strikes Again!", "Efren Reyes Makes All of Germany Take Off Her Hat!" or "The beautiful goddess fought with all her might - but the miracle belonged to the one who created it." Videos of Reyes' "physics-defying" trickshot spread across social networks, with millions of views in just 24 hours. Some experts even analyzed the mathematical aspect of the shot and admitted: "This is not instinct - this is genius."
With this match, Efren Reyes once again reminded the world that although age may slow down, it cannot dim talent and passion. And Annaliese, from a "rising beauty", has become an icon for the younger generation - not afraid of challenges, not afraid and ready to learn.
The match ended but the echoes remained forever. In the hearts of the German audience that day, they not only admired a top match, but also witnessed a wonderful intersection between beauty and greatness, between a young talent on the rise and a legend who continues to shine.
