At the age of 68, when many people have settled down to old age, when most athletes have retired from their competitive careers and chosen to live peacefully with their families, Efren "Bata" Reyes continues to stand firm on the stage of the sport he has been attached to all his life - billiards. But not only standing firm - he is still shocking the world with his amazing moves, unbelievable shots and especially his recent victory over a young, strong, ambitious opponent. A match that left the whole world speechless. A proof that: Legends never die.
The match took place in an extremely exciting atmosphere at a major international tournament in Asia. Reyes' opponent was a young American player, only 25 years old - who confidently declared at the press conference: "I will beat Efren Reyes. He is just the past." A provocative statement, but also showing the arrogance of youth who have not yet fully understood what is called the pinnacle of the world of billiards.
Right from the first minutes, the young player proved that he was not here to joke around. With strong hand power, high-speed play and improvised balls, he quickly took a 3-0 lead. Fans began to worry - maybe Reyes' time had passed? But when everyone was still doubting, the miracle began from that magical cue.
Efren stood up from his chair, his eyes still calm as they had been for many years. He smiled slightly, walked to the table like an artist stepping onto the stage. And then, his first ball made the audience hold their breath. A delicately curved ball, sending the cue ball spinning three times and stopping exactly where it needed to be - starting an unbelievable series of points. Reyes began to counterattack with so-called "special" shots: trick shots, four-cushion balls, back shots, bounce shots... all were accurate to the millimeter.
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The young player began to be confused. He did not expect that a person who was nearly 70 years old could control the game so perfectly. Every time Reyes stood up, the whole audience exploded. People no longer distinguished whether he was an athlete or a magician. Those "illogical" shots could not be learned through books or training - they were the crystallization of experience, class and natural talent.
The match became tense when the score was leveled at 4-4. The young player began to lose his spirit. He no longer had enough confidence in each shot, while Reyes seemed to be re-energized. In the deciding game, Reyes made a shot that stunned the whole world: the cue ball was stuck behind two block balls, and there seemed to be no way out. But with a flick of the wrist and a powerful spin, Reyes sent the cue ball circling the table, passing through a narrow gap of just a few centimeters and hitting the target ball precisely. A shot that seemed like it could only be seen in a Hollywood movie.
Cheers erupted, the camera zoomed in on the young opponent's bewildered face. The match ended with a 5-4 victory for Reyes - an unbelievable comeback, a proof that: Age is just a number.
Those who once criticized Reyes, saying that he should retire, now had to bow their heads and admit: he is still a living monument, the one who brought billiards to the level of art. Forums and social networks exploded after the match. Millions of people shared the video of the decisive shot, commentators called it "the shot of the century", and sports journalists affirmed: "We have just witnessed a new chapter in the history of world billiards."
Reyes remained humble after the match as always. When asked about his feelings, he just smiled slightly:
"I just do what I love. If young people think I'm weak, they will have the opportunity to learn."
A simple but charismatic statement of a living legend. That humility makes people respect him even more.
Looking back at Reyes' career, no one can deny his unique position in the world of billiards. From the 80s, when he began to make a splash in international tournaments, until now - nearly 50 years of competing at the top - Reyes has brought home hundreds of big and small titles, mastering almost every type of billiards: 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, one-pocket, straight pool... And now, he continues to write the legend at the age of 68 with such a "miraculous" victory.
Fans not only admire Reyes' technique, but also love him as a person - simple, humorous, and always humble. He never bragged, never looked down on his opponents. Even when he defeated a player who had made arrogant statements about him, Reyes did not show any resentment. On the contrary, he gently encouraged:
"Playing billiards is a lifelong learning, today you lost, but the future is long."
Perhaps it is that spirit - the spirit of a samurai in the body of an artist - that helps him survive, making him never old in the hearts of his fans.
