Naoyuki Oi, the rising star of Japanese billiards, entered the match with great confidence. He believed that he had all the skills, experience and agility to overcome the living legend of the billiards world – Efren "Bata" Reyes. Before the match, Oi even shared with the Japanese press: "I have always admired him, but today is the time for the new generation to rise up." A bold statement, and like many other young people, Oi thought that Reyes' era was over. But in the world of billiards, a world where true sophistication and magic exist on the table, never underestimate a legend nicknamed "The Magician".
Right from the first shots, Naoyuki Oi showed steady form. He opened with a series of powerful, precise shots, and did not give Reyes many opportunities to approach the table. In the first three games, Oi led convincingly 3-0.
The Japanese crowd cheered and applauded for their home player, and the commentators began to talk about "the end of the Reyes era". But what Oi and the crowd didn't understand was that Efren Reyes didn't play with physical strength, he played with intelligence, patience and a superb ability to read the table.
In the fourth game, Reyes began to show signs of a legendary comeback. When Oi played a shot but left a slightly "exposed" ball, Reyes stepped up to the table with his usual quiet gaze. Unfazed, expressionless, he used a gentle side shot, sending the 3 ball past the 5 ball to perfectly prepare for the next shot - a delicate move that left the audience silent for a few seconds, before exploding into applause. 3-1.
From that moment on, the atmosphere on the court seemed to be “bent” by the hand of a wizard. Reyes was leisurely, slow and precise like an artist drawing a perfect picture on the billiards table.
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He not only scored points – he controlled the game, controlled the emotions of his opponents. Oi, who was used to playing fast and proactively, began to show his impatience. He continuously missed seemingly simple shots, as Reyes’ presence became like a ghost covering the playing space.
Reyes took advantage of every small mistake, like a veteran swordsman waiting for his opponent to make an opening. A reverse corner shot sent the 6 ball running around three cushions and then right next to the hole to prepare for the 7 ball. An almost impossible masse to clear the 4 ball that was sandwiched between two other balls. The audience stood up and applauded, the commentator was speechless, and Oi began to… lose his bearings.
From a 0-3 deficit, Reyes won five games in a row to lead 5-3. Each of his wins was like a cut into Oi’s already-booming confidence. The Japanese player’s face changed from complacency to tension, then to astonishment. He couldn’t understand how his opponent – a man in his sixties – could play such “unbelievable” billiards.
The ninth game was the highlight of the match. Oi had a golden opportunity to reduce the score, but a slightly strong shot sent the 5 ball out of the ideal position. Reyes stepped up to the table with an extremely difficult ball position – the cue ball was close to the 7 ball, the 5 ball was near the bottom rail, between the other two blocking balls. The crowd held their breath. Reyes bent down, holding the cue as gently as if holding chopsticks to eat rice. And then, he hit a screw-back reverse masse – a shot that even Oi had never thought of, causing the 5 ball to slide in an impossible curve, hit the ice and fall neatly into the pocket. The commentator shouted: “Unbelievable! This is not pool, this is magic!”
After that shot, Oi’s spirit almost collapsed. He could no longer find his original concentration. Reyes, on the other hand, played as if he was at his peak, ending the match with a dramatic and emotional score of 7-3. When the final shot sent the 9 ball into the pocket, Reyes did not celebrate. He just nodded slightly, as if to say: “This is billiards. And I am still here.”
Naoyuki Oi walked away from the table with his eyes still in shock. In the post-match interview, he said something that touched everyone:
"I thought I would win easily. But then I realized that nothing is easy when you are facing a legend. Efren Reyes is not just a billiards player, he is a magician on the table."
This match was more than just a victory. It was a reminder to the world: never underestimate a legend – especially when his name is Efren “The Magician” Reyes.
In a sport that requires absolute calculation, perseverance and a transcendent sense of space – Reyes remains an immortal icon of the art of billiards.
