The Most Humble Pool Saint in History – But When He Gets to the Table, Efren Reyes Turns Into a Nightmare!

When people talk about great icons in the history of sports, especially in billiards, the name Efren "Bata" Reyes is always mentioned with utmost respect and admiration. But what makes this Filipino legend special is not only his amazing shots, his magical moves that make the world hold its breath, but also his incredibly humble and ordinary personality - which makes him a "saint" in the eyes of fans. However, once Reyes steps onto the table, everything changes. He is no longer a humble man who bows in greeting, but transforms into a living nightmare for any opponent who dares to stand in front of him.

Throughout his career at the top of the game that spanned more than four decades, Reyes has never bragged, never been arrogant or looked down on anyone - whether they are beginners or unknown players. He appears at international tournaments with a gentle smile, wearing a simple shirt, silver hair, and always takes time to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. No bodyguards, no long lines of reporters, no ostentatious noise like many other stars - Reyes is simply an artist, a craftsman who lives fully with his passion.

Many fans have called him "the billiards saint" not only because of his magical skills, but because of the way he humbly admits his mistakes every time he makes a mistake, bows his head in gratitude when praised, and never shows any joy in winning. "I'm just a player who plays because I love it. If I lose today, I'll try to learn to do better tomorrow," Reyes once said in an interview that made the whole audience silent with emotion.

But when he steps to the table - a different person appears

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But all that gentleness completely disappears when Efren Reyes picks up the cue and enters the match. In the light shining on the green table, he transformed into a real killer - cold, precise, unpredictable. It is no coincidence that many world legends have admitted that "when you think you have Reyes in a difficult position, you are wrong." He looked at the table like a tactical map, saw paths that others could not imagine, and executed shots that made the audience gasp in amazement.

An opponent bitterly admitted after being defeated by Reyes:

"He looks like a gentle old man, but when he plays, he is like a beast that has just woken up. Every shot is a nightmare."

"Kick shots", "bank shots", or even seemingly hopeless ball-clearing shots were all handled by Reyes as if he were playing - gently, precisely and naturally. But behind that was a genius mind, calculating every angle, every force, every movement to perfection. No one can teach that – it’s an instinct, a natural feeling that only a legend can have.

Many of the world’s top players have revealed that they feel nervous, even scared, every time they know they’re about to face Efren Reyes. The reason? Not because he’s aggressive or his tactics are too cunning, but because Reyes always makes things unpredictable. A seemingly failed shot turns into a perfect shot. A confusing shot turns into a perfect series of table-breaking shots.

And what about the audience? They love him for his perfect combination of genius and humility, of artist and assassin. Watching Reyes play is a privilege. Some people fly halfway around the world just to see him standing in front of the table, witnessing each “magical” shot that even simulation technology can’t explain.

Today, when Reyes no longer competes at the highest level as often as before, fans still refer to him as a living legend – an irreplaceable symbol of the world of billiards. Young generations, from Europe to Asia, from America to the Middle East, learn from him, not only to become a good player, but also to become a kind, humble, and passionate person.

Some say Reyes is a “magician”. Some call him a “genius”. But for millions of billiards lovers, he is simply a walking miracle, a nightmare in the form of a gentle old man. And that is what makes him greater than any title, medal or trophy he has ever won.