In that moment, the whole world seemed to fall silent. There were no more cheers, no more chaos that is often heard in major tournaments – just absolute silence, as if the whole space was holding its breath waiting for something extraordinary to happen. And then, that miracle happened. In a tense match between Efren "Bata" Reyes and one of the strongest opponents of the tournament, the legendary Filipino player unleashed an unexpected shot – a classic Z-shaped shot, dubbed by experts and fans as “The Classic Z”. It was not just a winning shot – it was an immortal moment, a work of art in a sport that requires both intelligence and absolute virtuosity.
Efren Reyes has long been no stranger to the world of billiards. With more than four decades of professional competition, he has impressed generations with his top-notch ball handling skills, limitless creativity and most importantly – the ability to see shots that others could not even imagine. But even in a career filled with such glorious moments, the “Classic Z” shot still stands out, still mentioned as one of the greatest moments in billiards history.
In that match, Reyes was in an extremely difficult situation. The cue ball was stuck in a corner of the table, with balls blocking all direct shots. Most of the audience thought he would choose the safe option: try to put the ball in a difficult position for his opponent, waiting for a mistake. But that is not the style of “The Magician”. Efren Reyes did not come to play safe – he came to create magic.
And then, magic happened.
VIDEO :
With a razor-sharp gaze, he carefully observed the table. A few seconds passed in silence – but in his head, there were probably hundreds of calculations going on at the same time. Then he leaned down, looked, and let go. The ball followed an unexpected curve, hitting the left rail, then the right, then the lower rail – and finally turned back at an impossible angle – making soft contact with the target ball and sending it into the pocket as if programmed. It was the perfect Z-shaped shot.
The whole room erupted, but also fell silent. Perhaps because of the surprise, the amazement of what he had just witnessed. The commentators were speechless for a few seconds. Some of the audience held their heads. Some burst out laughing in extreme excitement. But everyone understood that they had just witnessed an unrepeatable moment – a moment that would be watched thousands of times on YouTube, on professional sites, and in the hearts of billiards lovers forever.
The Classic Z shot is not only technically beautiful, but also a symbol of Reyes' brave, creative and daring style of play. He is not just an athlete - he is an artist. And each of his shots is a stroke on the big canvas called billiards.
Many experts have tried to analyze that shot. Slow-motion videos are widely shared on social networks. People recreate the situation using simulation software to explain why that shot was successful. But what they cannot simulate is Reyes' genius instinct - something that goes beyond pure logic, something that makes him "The Magician" in the hearts of millions of fans.
After the match, Reyes was humble as usual. He just smiled and said: "I just tried my luck." But everyone knows, it was not luck. It was the culmination of hard work, of intuition, of the art of billiards, crystallized in a moment.
From that moment on, the name “Classic Z” became iconic. Young players began to learn and try to emulate it. Tournaments began to have another criterion – creativity. And Efren Reyes, once again, changed the way the world looked at the sport.
In the history of billiards, there are moments that make legends. And the Classic Z is certainly one of them. It was not just a score – it was a message: that in billiards, nothing is impossible, as long as you have enough passion, imagination and courage.
The world may have many great players after Reyes. But no one will be able to repeat that moment in the way he did. And so, in that moment, the whole world fell silent – not in fear, but in reverence. Paying homage to a living legend, a master of the art of moving the ball, and a man who taught us that even in the seemingly rigid game of billiards, there is room for magic.
Efren Reyes – The Magician – and the Classic Z shot – forever etched into history.
