In the world of billiards where powerful shots, daring breaks and spectacular goals often steal the limelight, the “safety shot” – the defensive shot – is rarely praised as a high art. But if anyone can turn those shots into an artistic performance, it is none other than “The Magician” – Efren Reyes.
At the age of over 60, when many thought he was past his prime, Reyes once again made the billiards world stand in awe with a masterful defensive performance that left opponents exhausted of all ideas and fans gaping in awe.
That match was not just a technical battle, but also a vivid lesson in strategic thinking, patience and absolute precision. Reyes did not need to hit the hole every time, he just needed to do what he always did: control the pool table as if he were the creator of his own laws of physics.
Throughout the game, the audience was amazed many times when he made shots that put the target ball behind a “fence” of white balls - inaccessible, unsolvable, with no chance to counterattack.
VIDEO :
One of the situations that shocked everyone happened at the fifth rack, when Reyes was put in a difficult position - the cue ball was close to the rail, and the object ball was near the middle pocket with three balls blocking the way. A normal player would choose to try to “take a risk” to score, but Reyes was different.
He glanced at the table, smiled slightly, then chose to send the cue ball around the three rails, creating a path that seemed to not exist, bringing the ball close to the opposite rail, “hiding” it behind two target balls so that his opponent could not make a move.
That was no longer technique, it was magic. And the amazing thing was that he made that shot without using any force - just with the feeling of his hand, the spin and the math in his head, Reyes made everyone stand up and applaud endlessly.
The TV commentator couldn't hide his excitement: "I've been watching billiards for more than 20 years, but I've never seen such a series of excellent safety shots. Reyes is taking the sport to a whole new level."
But it wasn't just one magical shot. Throughout the match, Reyes used safety shots to control the game. Every time his opponent showed signs of attacking, he responded with shots that put them in a completely passive state. Reyes was in no hurry. He read the situation, felt the path of the balls as if they were "talking" to him.
His shots seemed to be calculated down to the centimeter. His opponent - a young American player, a former national champion - showed obvious confusion after the third rack. He shook his head repeatedly, trying to find a way out of Reyes' traps, but only got deeper into the tactical maze created by the genius's mind.
The audience was not only amazed by the result, but also learned a lesson in patience and strategy. While many young players chose a direct attacking style, Reyes emphasized a message: victory is not necessarily about hitting the hole, but making the opponent run out of options. His use of the “safety shot” was as precise as a mathematician, as delicate as an artist and as ruthless as a true warrior.
International media reported in unison: “Efren Reyes’ masterclass on safety shots is one of the most impressive defensive performances in billiards history.” From forums to social networks, fans shared every moment he “trapped” his opponent, and comments like “How did he think of that shot?”, “I can’t believe this is a defensive situation!” appeared everywhere.
Former world champion Mika Immonen also spoke out after the match: “This is why we always call him The Magician. No one else can read the pool table like him. And today, Reyes just proved that safety can be more dangerous than attack.”
Even laymen were fascinated. Some even compared Reyes to a “chess player on the billiards table”, who always thinks five moves ahead, forcing his opponent into a dead end. Indeed, Reyes did not just play billiards, he weaved stories with each shot – and those stories, always ended with him as the winner.
When asked about this shocking performance after the match, Reyes just smiled and said: “I just did what I always do. If I can’t attack, then make it impossible for my opponent to do anything.” The answer is simple, but hidden inside is a treasure trove of experience, thinking and art that has been cultivated over more than 40 years of professional competition.
This event is not only another victory in Reyes' glorious career, but also a message to the entire billiards world: do not underestimate the sophistication of defensive strategy. Because when the person executing it is Efren Reyes, the impossible becomes real. And above all, he is still the most vivid embodiment of the saying: "Class is forever."
