No match in modern billiards history has held the breath of fans around the world like the epic battle between two living legends: Efren "Bata" Reyes, the so-called "Wizard of Billiards" of the Philippines, and Nils Johanning, the great pride of Germany, a symbol of technique, discipline and steely spirit. This historic confrontation was held within the framework of the German Tour & Reelive Special Series, and from the moment it was announced, the match immediately became "THE WAR OF THE CENTURY" - The battle of the century.
A match that is more than just billiards
The match between Reyes and Johanning was not only a competition between two outstanding athletes, but also a fusion of two opposing schools: the improvisation, magic and illogicality of Reyes - who once stunned millions of viewers with his seemingly impossible shots - and the precision, science and coldness of Johanning - who never let emotions affect every touch of the cue. This was a battle between emotion and reason, between art and technique, between wild Southeast Asia and classical Europe.
From the moment they entered the field, the atmosphere was tense to the point of suffocation. The audience cheered loudly, the chants of Reyes' name mixed with the cheers of "Johanning! Johanning!" of the German fans made the stadium shake. Reelive's cameras captured every moment, every look, every breath of the two opponents.
VIDEO :
Dramatic Start
The match started with a solemn atmosphere, but after just a few shots, the whole world understood that this was not an ordinary match. Nils Johanning opened with a strong break, clearing the table perfectly with his typical cool style. He played three racks in a row, not giving Reyes a chance to counterattack.
But Efren Reyes was not someone to be easily defeated. At the fourth rack, when he had the chance to hold the cue, he immediately turned the playing space into a magic show. An incredible bank shot from the corner of the table, followed by a 2-ball combo that even Reelive's analyst had to exclaim: "This is pure art!" Reyes gradually shortened the gap and brought the match back to balance.
Climax: When strategy and intelligence collide
From the 7th rack to the 14th rack, the match became a tactical dance. Each of Johanning's cues was calculated like a complex geometric problem. But Reyes, with his extraordinary experience and intuition, always found the “gaps” in that seemingly perfect defense system. At times, Johanning set up a defense with 3 balls blocking his path, Reyes only needed a feather-light jump, the cue ball flew up and landed right at the target ball – the whole audience exploded.
The most shocking situation happened at the 15th rack. When the score was 7-7, Johanning made a rare mistake when he missed the 5 ball. Reyes took advantage of the opportunity, but when it came to the 9 ball – the decisive shot of the rack – a loud cough rang out from the stands, causing Reyes to miss. The missed shot silenced the whole audience. But what happened next proved why he was called “The Wizard”. Instead of hitting a direct shot, Reyes used a crazy masse that made the cue ball curve in an arc and pushed the 9 ball into the corner pocket to the amazement of everyone, including Johanning himself.
The legendary climax
The two continued to chase each other in a tense rack. The score was drawn to 10-10. At the last rack, no one dared to blink. Reyes started first, an imperfect break that left the 2 ball near the edge of the table, seemingly impossible. But Reyes once again showed his magic: a 3-cushion shot that gently touched the 2 ball and sent it into the middle pocket - a shot that even the most professional players called "unrepeatable".
Reyes went to the 9 ball. This time no one made a sound. The whole audience held their breath. A simple, lulling shot, the 9 ball sank to the bottom of the pocket to the thunderous applause of thousands of fans.
Legend and mutual respect
After the match, Johanning walked up to Reyes and shook his hand firmly, his eyes shining with admiration:
“I fought hard today. But he is something that cannot be explained by reason.”
Reyes just smiled, modestly:
“You are a great opponent. I just tried to play like myself.”
The match between Efren Reyes and Nils Johanning was not only a battle of skill, but also a demonstration of sportsmanship, respect and the true beauty of billiards. It will forever go down in history as a classic battle – a confrontation of two worlds, two souls, and two unmistakable styles.
German Tour & Reelive brought fans a masterpiece, a match where every shot was art, every moment was history. The War of the Century is not just a name – it is a reality. A billiards epic that the world will talk about for years to come.
