No one expected that day to be one of the most shocking moments in the history of snooker. What seemed like a simple confrontation between a Filipino billiards legend – Efren “Bata” Reyes – and a British snooker champion, a six-time major winner in the country, turned into a breathtaking battle that left the entire stadium speechless. Surprise, drama and high emotions – all happened in a clash that no one could have expected.
From the start of the match, the atmosphere in the stadium was extremely tense. The status of both players was legendary in their own fields. On one side was Efren Reyes, who was dubbed “The Wizard” for his ability to create unimaginable shots, controlling the ball as if by magic. On the other side was an icon of the British snooker scene, a six-time champion of prestigious tournaments, known for his calm play, sharp strategy, and steely mentality.
It seemed like the match would be a balanced competition, but right from the first games, Reyes created an earthquake. With his bold playing style, moving gently around the table like he was dancing, he made his British opponent confused in a confusing way. Not only did he hit perfectly accurate shots, Reyes also performed "kick shots", "bank shots", and unbelievable massés that surprised both his opponent and the audience.
In the third game, while his opponent was leading 2-0 and confidently stepping up to the table, Reyes made a defensive move that made the whole audience fall silent - he hit the cue ball with a spin on the rail, skimmed through a series of red balls and lightly touched the target ball with just enough force, narrowly avoiding a foul. His opponent stood still, staring at the table in disbelief. "How did he do that?" - a commentator exclaimed in amazement.
VIDEO :
From then on, the game was all Reyes’s. He turned the tables and began a spectacular scoring streak. In a particularly tense moment in the sixth game, when his opponent was trying to recover, Reyes suddenly performed a three-cushion shot – his signature pool technique – that he applied boldly to snooker. The ball circled the table, avoiding each ball in turn, and dropped precisely into the pocket. The room erupted in applause. The commentators shook their heads, half-smiling, and said: “We are witnessing something that is beyond the norm for snooker.”
The atmosphere became extremely tense. The British champion was clearly losing his cool. He was grumpy, retreated to the break room for longer than usual, and when he returned, his eyes were no longer confident. Reyes, on the other hand, was still smiling gently, pacing around the table like a performer with a cue stick instead of a paintbrush. Every shot was a work of art, every tactic a delicate strategic game.
What shocked the audience even more was Reyes's cool, calm demeanor. He showed no emotion of victory, no ostentation, no arrogance – he simply did extraordinary things in the most natural way. Even when he was leading by a large margin, he remained focused and showed the utmost respect for his opponent – which earned the admiration of the entire professional world.
The final game took place in tense silence. Reyes was faced with an extremely difficult situation, with the black ball close to the bench and the cue ball blocked by two other colored balls. Everyone thought he would play it safe to buy time. But no – Reyes crouched, looked at the table intently, then made a feather-light jump shot. The cue ball flew past the two blocking balls, hit the black ball precisely, and dropped it into the corner pocket – the perfect finish.
The audience exploded once again. Some British spectators stood up and applauded despite their idol's defeat. The commentator nodded and said: "We have just witnessed a lesson - not only in technique, but also in the character and humility of a true legend."
The media later called the match "Total Shock" - a complete shock. British newspapers could not hide their disappointment but did not spare praise for Reyes' performance. Some experts even asked: "Should there be more cross-play matches between snooker and pool, so that talents like Reyes have the opportunity to prove their ability in other playgrounds?"
Reyes' opponent, in the post-match press conference, admitted bitterly: "I thought I was ready. But I never thought a player from pool could read the snooker table like that. It's not just technique, it's genius."
That match was not only a victory in points, but also a victory of creativity, of art in sport, and a strong affirmation: Efren “Bata” Reyes – in any sport – is still one of the greatest geniuses the world has ever witnessed.
