That night, in a packed auditorium, where the atmosphere was as tense as a string of suspense, Efren “Bata” Reyes – the living symbol of the world of billiards – performed the unthinkable, a shot that made the entire billiards world stop to witness the appearance of a miracle. When the cue touched the ball with unbelievable ease, no one expected that just a few seconds later, the entire auditorium would explode in enthusiastic cheers, the opponent would laugh out loud in… amazement, and millions of fans in front of the screen would have to rewind that moment over and over again as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.
That match was part of a major international tournament, where top players from all over the world gathered to compete. Reyes, in his 60s, still played as if time had never touched him. His light steps, calm eyes and mysterious style made his opponent – a young player from Europe, who had won the continental championship – unable to let his guard down for a second.
The game was at a stalemate, when his opponent accidentally left Reyes with a situation that was almost… impossible to solve. The white ball was locked between two other balls, and the target was at the opposite corner of the table. The whole audience held their breath. The commentators whispered as if they did not want to break the sacred atmosphere. Some people began to guess that Reyes would “clear the table” and accept losing his turn. But no, that was not the way of a legend.
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Reyes bent down, watching. He moved lightly around the table, occasionally nodding his head – as if negotiating with himself. The cue in his hand seemed not just a tool but a magic wand, and he was a magician preparing to draw a magical spell. And then the shot came – soft, smooth, but extremely accurate. The white ball spun in a strange trajectory, lightly touching the ice, then circled all three balls in front of it as if dancing on the sparkling table. And as if guided by an invisible hand, the target ball fell silently into the pocket.
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then the whole stadium exploded. The fans jumped up from their seats, clapping wildly. The young opponent held his head, threw his head back and laughed, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. An expression not of anger but of… amazement, admiration. Shots like that, could only come from one person – Efren Reyes.
The camera zoomed in on Reyes’s face. He smiled gently, then nodded in thanks to the audience. No boasting, no ostentatious gesture – just the eyes sparkling with joy of someone who had just done something no one expected. In that moment, Reyes was more than just a player. He was an artist. A magician. The soul of billiards.
Immediately after the match, social networks and sports forums were flooded with videos of that magical shot. People shared it with all kinds of titles: “You won’t believe this!”, “The best shot of the decade!”, or simply “Efren – Living Magic!”. The famous commentator of ESPN exclaimed: “This is no longer billiards, this is art. Reyes is a painter, and the billiards table is his painting.”
Not only fans, but also veteran opponents in the billiards world had to admit the greatness of Reyes. A player who has played against him dozens of times shared: “I have played billiards for more than 30 years, and I have never seen anyone who can handle situations like this. He not only sees shots that others do not see – he makes them look so beautiful that they are surreal.”
What makes Efren Reyes special is not just his skills. It is also his spirit of fair play, his humility, and his endless love for the sport. Despite winning countless titles, despite being called “The Magician”, Reyes has never stopped learning. He still practices every day, still spends time teaching young players, and always enters each match with the same passion as when he first started.
That magical shot that night did not just bring points, did not just help Reyes win. It became iconic. It is a reminder that in sports – and especially in billiards – there is always room for creativity, for miracles, for things that go beyond common logic. And above all, it reminds us that no matter how much time passes, there are legends who never lose their aura – because they are not just good players, they are inspirations.
When the stage lights gradually dimmed, the audience did not leave. People still stood, talking about the magical shot. A little boy pulled his father's hand, his eyes shining, saying: "I want to be like him." The father nodded slightly, and both turned their eyes to the place where, just a few minutes ago, the miracle took place.
