In the world of billiards, there are many excellent players, many world champions who have dominated major and minor tournaments with their skillful techniques and consistent performance.
However, there is a name that everyone, whether a champion or a regular fan, must respect - that is Efren "Bata" Reyes, a living legend of the Philippine and world billiards. And recently, in a top 9-ball tournament gathering the world's top champions, Efren Reyes once again made the entire professional world and fans widen their eyes in amazement because of his incredible performance.
The event took place within the framework of a special invitational tournament - where world-class names such as Shane Van Boening, Joshua Filler, Ko Pin-Yi, Albin Ouschan and Jayson Shaw - who have stood at the pinnacle of fame with world championship titles were gathered.
Everyone was confident and full of enthusiasm entering the tournament with the goal of showing themselves and winning glory. But no one expected that the person who stunned them, the person who made them unable to contain their admiration was the "70-year-old man" from the Philippines - Efren Reyes.
Even though he was in his seventies, Efren still maintained a calm demeanor, sharp eyes and an incredibly cool head. Right from the first games, he made the audience stand up when he performed a series of cues without any mistakes, with "magical" ball paths that seemed impossible to exist in reality.
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A four-cushion shot that brought the white ball back to the right position, a dodge that touched the edge of the table and then skillfully turned the corner... each of his cue paths seemed to have magic.
The young champions sitting on the sidelines could not believe their eyes. Joshua Filler had to exclaim: “I used to think I understood the rules of 9-ball at the highest level… but then I watched Reyes play, and I realized I was still learning.” A respectful statement from the former world champion, who was dubbed the German snooker prodigy.
Shane Van Boening, known for his powerful and accurate breaks, was also “fascinated” by the way Reyes handled complicated situations. In a match between the two, Shane was leading 5-2, and it seemed like it would end quickly, but Reyes suddenly turned the situation around by taking advantage of a small error from Shane.
From there, he made a series of consecutive shots, bringing the score to 5-5 and ending the match with an unbelievable “kick shot” – the white ball hit the right position and bounced back to create a position for the 9 ball to end the game. The audience stood up and applauded. Shane just smiled, nodded and patted Reyes on the shoulder as if admitting: "This is a level that I have yet to reach."
Not only the technique, what makes people admire Reyes is the sportsmanship and the heart for this sport. In another match, when the referee did not detect a small technical error of the opponent, Reyes himself took the initiative to speak up, asked the referee to review the slow-motion tape, and then agreed to let the opponent play again. That action made the whole hall silent for a few seconds, then exploded with loud applause. A legend not only because of ability, but also because of personality.
It can be said that Efren Reyes has not only made contemporary champions bow in admiration, but also once again proved that true class does not come from age or physical strength, but from intelligence, experience and a heart that loves the profession.
With shots that seem to read the mind of the ball, moves that seem to be controlled by an invisible hand, Reyes makes people remember that he is not an ordinary person - he is "The Wizard", "The Magician" - the nickname that the whole world gave him is not accidental.
After the end of the tournament, many young players came to shake hands, ask for photos and even ask for autographs from Efren Reyes. Some even shared that just playing a match with him, even if they lost, they felt honored and learned a lot. Jayson Shaw said: "I don't think I've seen anything like this in my entire career. Efren is still the pinnacle, a life lesson for our generation."
Reyes' performances in the tournament quickly went viral on social media. Videos of his "magical" shots received millions of views in just a few days. Billiards forums are buzzing with discussion, and many people are starting to compare Reyes with other sports legends like Federer, Messi or Jordan – timeless icons.
Although the years may slow down the hands a bit, for Efren Reyes, the quickness in thinking, the ability to calculate angles, forces, and trajectories – all are still extremely perfect. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is creating a glorious final chapter for his illustrious career.
