On a drizzly afternoon in Tokyo, one of the most memorable billiards matches in the world took place — where the cues not only collided, but also drew magical curves of strategy, talent, and spectacular competitive spirit. It was a confrontation between the young "Billiards Prodigy" Efren Reyes from the Philippines and the "American King of Cue" - an experienced, brave and cool-headed master.
The auditorium was packed with people, from die-hard fans of the noble sport to legendary players, all of whom could not take their eyes off a match that promised to make history. On one side was Efren Reyes, then only in his twenties, possessing a quick mind, a cool composure and "magical" technique that people had to call him "The Magician". On one side is the US 9-ball champion, who has defeated countless top players and is famous for his powerful, powerful and absolutely accurate breaks.
Right from the first shots, people felt the tension like a string. Reyes, with his improvisational playing style, as gentle as a ballet dancer on a wooden floor, continuously launched incredibly tricky shots. At times, the audience had to laugh with delight and applaud non-stop when he used the masse technique to solve a seemingly "dead" ball position, dodging each ball arranged by his opponent, miraculously putting the 9 ball into the hole.
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On the other side, the US Pool King did not show any weakness. With a somewhat strong, decisive and highly calculated playing style, he tried to impose his style of play with thunderous breaks. At times, he won three consecutive goals thanks to a series of break runs, not giving Reyes a chance to counterattack. But what made everyone admire was that even though he was behind, Reyes still kept his calm face, his eyes deep as if he was calculating the next 10 moves.
The match at this point was no longer a normal competition. It became a strategic chess game, where both challenged each other with their top-notch “safety play” skills. Every time it seemed like they had put their opponent in a difficult position, the opponent had a way to solve it with unimaginable shots. Reyes had a bank shot that put the 5 ball into the middle pocket after the white ball went through two cushions — a shot that made even his American opponent nod in admiration and smile in amazement.
One of the most memorable moments was when the match entered a 10-10 tie. This was the deciding set. The pressure was on both of them, but perhaps more on Reyes — the younger one, with less experience competing on such a big stage. But it was in that moment that he showed the mettle of a true genius. Reyes’s shot was not as powerful as his opponent’s, but it was so delicate that it stopped the white ball in the right place to continue. He moved gently around the table, hitting each stroke as if he were “painting a picture”. And then, in the breathless silence of the audience, Reyes made the final shot to put the 9 ball in the corner pocket, ending the match with a breathtaking score of 11-10!
The whole audience exploded! No one could believe their eyes. A young man from the Philippines had just defeated the U.S. Pool King in a match that would be remembered for many years as an “unbelievable battle”. The applause was long, even the American opponent came up to shake Reyes’s hand, and whispered: “Kid, you’re not just good — you’re something else.”
The Japanese press that day ran a big headline: “Billiard Sensation: Reyes Stuns the King in Tokyo Thriller!”. Billiards forums around the world exploded, slow-motion videos of the decisive shot were shared millions of times, experts did not hesitate to praise Reyes' intelligence, bravery and genius. Many people believe that this was the match that opened a new era for Reyes, bringing his name beyond Southeast Asia to become a global phenomenon.
As for his American opponent, he shared in the post-match press conference: "I have met many good opponents in my career, but Reyes is one of the few who really made me rethink my approach to the match. He did not just play well — he played as if he was reading the future."
After the match, experts called this event a "sweet shock". A budding genius, facing a contemporary monument, and the two created an iconic battle. In Japan, Reyes’ name suddenly became a phenomenon — billiards clubs organized replays of the match, young people learned Reyes’ signature shots, and many people called him “the Samurai of Asian billiards”.
That match was not just a confrontation between two talents. It was also a symbol of the passing of the torch between the old and new generations, an affirmation that true talent does not depend on age or nationality — you just need to have passion, desire, and dare to express yourself.
And from that “golden” moment in Japan, Efren “The Magician” Reyes was not just a good player — he became a living legend, a monument that the billiards world will forever remember.
