The worlds of billiards and snooker, although originating from the same pool table and colorful balls, have always been considered two completely different worlds. One side is the standard, tactics, and perfect control - the characteristics of snooker.
The other side is the improvisation, speed, and magical shots - the characteristics of pool. Few people could have imagined that one day two great icons of these two worlds would face each other in a historic match - an iconic clash, and the fateful shot of "Wizard" Reyes made the legendary Steve Davis - King of Snooker - bow down.
The match was held at a prestigious exhibition event, where famous snooker and pool players were invited to exchange skills, but no one expected that in the friendly atmosphere there would appear a shocking moment, which would become the legend of both sports.
Steve Davis – the immortal monument of snooker, who dominated the 1980s with his cool, precise manner, entered the match with absolute confidence. He was a symbol of discipline, who made even the most talented players retreat with his ability to control the match and his steely spirit.
Opposite him was Efren “Bata” Reyes – a person who was almost the opposite: playing with instinct, with sharp eyes that seemed to see through every ball, and especially shots that no one dared to try – except him.
The match was divided into two formats: a snooker round and a 9-ball pool round. Steve Davis clearly showed his superiority in the first round, where he showed his excellent ball control, his highly tactical play that made Reyes have difficulty. Although unfamiliar with the snooker rules, Reyes still fought like a true warrior, trying to learn and adapt to each stroke.
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However, the real shock came in the 9-ball pool round – Reyes’ forte. The match became tense from the very first minutes. Steve Davis, although not an expert in this genre, with his top skills and experience, played extremely tenaciously. The match was like a cross between two schools of music – sophistication and improvisation, tradition and innovation.
And then, the moment that made the whole world quiet came.
The situation happened when the score was 7-7. Davis had just played a perfect shot, putting Reyes in a very difficult situation – the 8-ball was close to the corner of the table, while the cue ball was hidden by the 2 and 5 balls, with almost no favorable shot. The audience believed that the match was tilted in Davis’s favor. The commentators began to talk about the possibility that Reyes would choose to play it safe or let Davis finish the match.
But Efren Reyes was not an ordinary person. He didn’t play like any other player. He crouched down, watching the table for a few brief seconds. Without saying a word, he picked up the cue, oriented himself, and then hit a shot with the lightest of forces – seemingly meaningless.
The cue ball hit the rail, followed a strange curve, then hit the 8-ball at an unexpected angle – the 8-ball went into the pocket perfectly, while the entire stadium exploded in cheers, and Steve Davis just stood there, his hands on the table, his eyes following the trajectory of the ball in disbelief.
No one could believe their eyes. Even the veteran commentators took a moment to interpret that shot. A shot that defied all conventional rules, could only come from the mind of a genius – a true “wizard” on the table. That shot was more than just a victory, it was a statement of creativity, a moment that confirmed that the pool world had a king, and his name was Efren "Bata" Reyes.
Steve Davis, in his typical gentlemanly manner, approached Reyes, shook his hand with obvious respect. He whispered something into Reyes' ear – later translated: “That shot cannot be learned. It comes from another dimension.”
The media immediately dubbed that moment “When Worlds Collide”. Not a collision to confront, but to honor. Two styles, two classes, two icons – converging on one table. But only one shot can make history. And that shot belonged to Reyes.
From that moment, Reyes' career entered a new chapter. He was no longer just a “king of the streets”, no longer just a phenomenon from the Philippines. He became a global icon, recognized by snooker icons such as Davis, Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan as an irreplaceable pool genius.
That match was more than just a victory. It was a connection between cultures, a testament to the fact that talent can transcend genres, and a living testament to the famous saying: “You can learn technique, but you can’t learn genius.”
Efren Reyes – with a shot that left the world speechless – etched his name into the history of not only pool, but snooker as well. And Steve Davis, with his humility and respect, also contributed to one of the most sacred moments in the history of pool sports
