Reyes Makes a Splash! Knocks Out Japan's Number 1 Cue Player With a Series of Godly Cue Shots!
In what can only be described as a divine exhibition of billiards mastery, Filipino legend Efren "Bata" Reyes once again reminded the world why he’s often referred to as The Magician. In a jaw-dropping match during the 2016 Asian Pool Championship, Reyes stunned the entire arena—and millions of fans watching around the world—by decisively knocking out Japan’s number one cue artist, Hayato Hijikata, using a relentless barrage of jaw-dropping, impossible-to-predict shots.
It was a race-to-eight format, and many pundits had pegged Hijikata as the slight favorite due to his recent string of victories and his intimidatingly precise shot selection. But what they didn’t account for was the unquantifiable factor that Reyes always brings to the table: pure magic.
From the very first rack, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be an ordinary match. Hijikata broke with his signature controlled power, pocketing two balls and leaving himself a decent opening shot. He methodically cleared the table and claimed the first rack with the quiet efficiency fans have come to expect from Japan’s number one. The crowd responded with polite applause.
But Reyes, calm and unbothered, walked to the table in rack two like a man arriving at his second home. From that point forward, something surreal began to unfold.
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The second rack showcased the first of many “impossible” shots that would define the match. With only a narrow angle available between the cue ball and the object ball, and with three other balls tightly clustered nearby, Reyes pulled off a breathtaking masse shot that spun around the cluster, pocketed the ball in the corner, and landed perfectly for the next shot. The audience gasped audibly. Hijikata sat motionless, staring, as if unsure whether to be amazed or terrified.
That was just the beginning.
Reyes’ third rack break was equally extraordinary. Not only did he pocket the 1-ball with a controlled break, but he also executed a three-rail positional shot that placed the cue ball just a hairline away from the 2-ball, allowing him to continue without interruption. The Filipino icon flowed from one shot to the next like water down a mountain—unpredictable, powerful, yet smooth and natural.
As the score leveled and Reyes began pulling ahead, Hijikata tried to regain control. In rack five, Hijikata attempted a safety shot that was—on paper—perfect. He left Reyes with a difficult angle, nearly snookered behind two balls. Any ordinary player would have been forced to play a defensive shot.
But not Reyes.
With a casual flick of the wrist and a devilish smirk, Reyes pulled off one of the most unbelievable kick shots of the decade—hitting two rails, barely grazing the object ball, and sending it straight into the side pocket. The shot was so audacious, so precise, that even the commentators went momentarily speechless before exploding into praise. “That’s Efren Reyes for you,” one finally said. “He doesn’t follow the rules of physics. He rewrites them.”
From that point onward, Hijikata looked visibly rattled. The calm, collected expression he carried in the early racks began to crack. He fidgeted in his seat, adjusted his cue more than usual, and frequently glanced toward his coach. Reyes, meanwhile, looked as relaxed as if he were playing pool in his backyard.
In rack seven, Reyes committed what looked like a rare mistake—a miscalculated bank shot that left the table open for Hijikata. It was the Japanese star’s chance to make a comeback. He started strong, sinking three balls in succession and getting into rhythm again. But then, under pressure, he overhit a draw shot and scratched the cue ball. Ball in hand for Reyes. The Magician didn’t need to be asked twice. With clinical precision, he cleaned up the table in five stunning shots, finishing with a no-look 9-ball shot that had the crowd on their feet.
By rack eight, the score was 7–2. Hijikata was desperate. He broke well, managed to sink one ball, and lined up for a tough long shot. He missed. The ball rattled in the jaws of the pocket and stayed out.
Reyes stood, exhaled slowly, and then performed what could only be described as a final symphony of skill. Each shot was more elegant than the last. At one point, he jumped a ball with pinpoint accuracy, banked another off two rails, and left the cue ball frozen in place. The crowd was hypnotized. With the final 9-ball lined up, Reyes looked at the crowd, winked, and pocketed it with a smooth, effortless stroke.
Game over. Reyes wins 8–2.
The reaction was electric. Fans rushed the edge of the arena for photos and autographs. Hijikata, ever the sportsman, approached Reyes and gave him a respectful bow, smiling in disbelief. Later in an interview, Hijikata said: “I’ve never been beaten so beautifully. It was like watching a masterclass in art, not sport.”
This match wasn’t just a win for Reyes. It was a statement. A message to the pool world that age means nothing when genius is timeless. At a time when younger, more mechanically trained players are dominating the scene, Reyes reminded everyone that creativity, instinct, and heart still have a place in the sport—and that he remains the undisputed magician of the green felt.
Social media exploded after the match. Hashtags like #ReyesMagic, #GodlyShots, and #AsianPoolLegend trended across platforms. Fans across the globe replayed the viral moments: the double-rail kick shot, the masse miracle, the no-look finisher.
Even billiards legends chimed in. American champion Shane Van Boening tweeted, “That’s why he’s the GOAT. Nobody plays like Efren Reyes.”
In a world full of precision players and robotic execution, Reyes continues to remind us why he is beloved: not just because he wins, but because he wins in style. With shots that make no sense on paper, but perfect sense in motion. With a humble smile, a calm demeanor, and a magical touch that can’t be taught.
The 2016 Asian Pool Championship may have crowned many winners—but only one magician.
And he just made another cue master disappear.
