On a stressful afternoon at a prestigious tournament taking place in Asia, fans poured into the stadium, eagerly awaiting the match that was considered "the confrontation of two generations". On one side was Efren "Bata" Reyes - a living legend, known as "The Magician" in the world of billiards. On the other side was the youngest champion of the tournament, a young man in his early 20s from Europe, who had just won his first major title and confidently declared: "I am ready to beat anyone, even the outdated monuments."
Many people laughed when hearing that, but thousands of people began to doubt whether "Wizard" Reyes, now over 60 years old, could still stand firm against the new waves of youth and modern training technology? The doubt spread throughout social networking forums and the media. Many experts even said that this could be Efren Reyes' last match before officially retiring from the spotlight.
However, as soon as the first ball rolled on the table, no one dared to underestimate this silver-haired old man.
The young champion, with his bold, powerful playing style and confident style, quickly took the initiative. He executed a series of high-speed shots, performing beautiful spins as if to challenge Reyes' skills and reputation. The young audience cheered, chanting his name every time a cue was successful. He smiled, looking at Reyes as if to say: "Your time is up, old man!"
Reyes was the complete opposite. He quietly observed, nodding slightly at each shot, without any worried expression. Those deep and bright eyes seemed to be remembering every little habit of his opponent - every wink, the force when swinging the cue, and even the opening in the way the cue ball moved.
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And then, the first mistake came. In a swift stroke towards victory, the young champion missed a seemingly simple combo. The table suddenly became silent, only the slow footsteps of Reyes advancing, as gentle as a master preparing to start a performance.
On the first shot, Reyes stunned the entire audience. Instead of following the basic ball, he performed an extremely difficult three-cushion indirect shot, pocketing the ball with perfect accuracy. The whole audience gasped, the television immediately showed a slow-motion replay - a shot so difficult that no one could have predicted, unless it was Efren Reyes.
The next few minutes were an expensive lesson for the young champion. Reyes continued to perform shots that seemed impossible: a five-touch ball, a double kick that sent the ball evading an obstacle, a reverse shot that seemed to violate physics, but still succeeded. In the stands, people started to stand up and applaud. The young people were stunned. The media seemed to not believe their eyes.
No need for speed, no need for strength, just tactics, patience and a superb analytical mind, Reyes gradually suffocated his opponent with precise shots like a knife. The young man's arrogance turned into fear. Every time Reyes stood up, the whole table became a stage for an artist who was too familiar with the spotlight.
Finally, with the last shot - a perfect masse that sent the ball into the pocket in a magical curve - Reyes ended the match with a resounding cheer. The audience stood up and applauded. Some even cried with emotion. People understood that they had just witnessed a living chapter in billiards history, a proof that age cannot fade true talent.
The young champion stepped forward, shook hands with Reyes with a bowed gaze - no more arrogance, only absolute admiration. He whispered: “I didn’t think you could still do it… I was wrong.” Reyes smiled slightly and replied: “Never underestimate the old. We are not strong, but we have seen all the mistakes that the young people are about to make.”
That match was later called by the press as “The Masterclass of a Legend” – where a master teaches the young a lesson that cannot be found in any academy. Reyes won not only with technique, but also with time, history, composure and pure passion.
People will always remember that afternoon. An afternoon that seemed like skepticism and youth would bury the glory of a monument – but it did not. From Spain, the US, the Philippines to Vietnam, millions of fans shared the same feeling: Efren Reyes was not just a player, he was a living legend, the embodiment of art and courage.
They thought he was too old. But he taught them: "Old age is not the end – it is the beginning of proving you are immortal."
