In a match considered the “royal battle” of the Straight Pool genre, living legend Efren "Bata" Reyes once again made waves in the billiards world when he unexpectedly defeated the rising young star from Finland – Mika Makkonen, with a technique that made even the most veteran players shake their heads in amazement. This event was not simply a victory, but a real earthquake in the Straight Pool village, where the “throne” position seemed to have been transferred to the new generation.
Mika Makkonen entered the semi-final match with utmost confidence. Throughout the tournament, he almost did not meet a worthy opponent. With a strong, decisive playing style and modern tactics, Makkonen quickly became a new symbol of the dominant Straight Pool style. Commentators did not hesitate to call him the “Young King of European Straight Pool”, who could end the era of old legends like Reyes.
But there was one thing that everyone seemed to forget – that the magic never goes away. And when “The Wizard” Reyes stepped onto the mat, with his easygoing demeanor, calm eyes and the stick that had created thousands of memorable shots, something strange began to permeate the atmosphere of the match. The audience sat in tense silence, because everyone realized: something was about to happen… and it was not normal.
VIDEO :
The match did not start easily for Reyes. Makkonen took every opportunity, quickly leading and putting Reyes on the defensive. But what made the match “legendary” was not the initial dominance, but the miraculous comeback – a true display of magic. In what seemed like an impossible situation, Reyes hit a “mass” shot with perfect backspin, sending the white ball on an incredible trajectory, weaving through a gap just wide enough for the tip of the stick and then making contact with the target ball as if guided by an invisible hand.
The crowd erupted.
The commentator shouted: “That is not a normal shot! That is art, that is inspiration, that is... magic!” Meanwhile, Makkonen froze. His face showed utter amazement. He had studied Reyes carefully, ready for any tactic – except the one that could not be explained by tactics.
From that shot, the game was completely turned around. Reyes became terrifyingly precise. Each subsequent shot seemed programmed by a supercomputer – but executed with the ease of a Zen master. He was not just playing; he was performing. And in that performance, both the opponent and the audience were drawn into another dimension – where time seemed to stop, and there was only a pure connection between the artist and the table.
Makkonen tried to get up, trying to find the original rhythm. But Reyes did not let that happen. He completely controlled the match, scored consecutive points and even made an unbelievable series of points – something that only Straight Pool legends in history could do. Each shot was like a message: “Modern technique is very strong, but the subtlety that comes from the emotions and the soul of the game is what decides.”
At the end of the match, the scoreboard was not as important as the continuous applause from the audience. Although Makkonen is an excellent player, he had to bow his head and admit: “I did not lose to an ordinary person. I lost to a legend, and I learned a lot.”
Social networks exploded. Highlight clips of Reyes’ magic shot went viral, racking up millions of views in just a few hours. Comments were filled with admiration:
“This is why he’s called The Magician!”
“Reyes doesn’t hit the pool – he draws on the table.”
“I’ve watched billiards all my life and I’ve never seen anything like this!”
Remarkably, Reyes was not ostentatious. After the match, he simply smiled and said: “I just do what I love. If it makes people happy, that’s enough.” That’s the spirit of a legend – someone who doesn’t need to shout for attention, but just stays quiet and lets the stick do the talking.
This victory is more than just a personal result. It’s a message to the billiards world: Reyes is still there. And the magic still exists. In an age where technique and technology increasingly overwhelm emotion and art, Reyes reminds us that what makes billiards a great sport is not just the ability to calculate, but the soul in each touch of the ball.
“🔥 Straight Pool Throne Shakes!” is not just a sensational headline. It is the truth. The throne of Straight Pool – seemingly ready for a new owner – is shaking violently under the weight of an old name. Reyes does not need to defend his title, he only needs one match to affirm that technique can be learned, but magic – can only come from a heart that loves the game to the core.
And so the legend continues to live on, not only in the list of champions, but in every unbelievable shot, every moment that makes people exclaim: “How did he can do that?
