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Efren Manalang Reyes OLD PLH (born August 26, 1954), popularly known by the nicknames "Bata" (Tagalog for 'Kid') and "the Magician", is a Filipino professional pool player, who is widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time,[1][2][3][4][5] and especially famed for his skill at the challenging one-pocket discipline. In 2003, he was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame.[6][7]
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A winner of over 100 professional tournaments, Reyes was the first player to win the WPA World Championships in two different pool disciplines. Among his numerous titles, Reyes is a WPA World Nine-ball Champion and WPA World Eight-ball Champion, a U.S. Open Nine-ball Championship winner, a four-time Sands Regency Nine-ball Open winner, a four-time All Japan Championship winner,[8] a seven-time WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour Champion,[9] and a record thirteen-time Derby City Classic winner. Reyes also represented the Philippines at the World Cup of Pool, winning the event with his partner Francisco Bustamante in 2006 and 2009. Reyes defeated American champion Earl Strickland twice in The Color of Money challenge match in 1996 and a rematch in 2001.[10][11] In their first challenge match in 1996, Reyes took home the winner-take-all prize of $100,000, the highest single-event purse in the history of pool at that time.
Reyes is nicknamed "the Magician", for his ability on the pool table, and "Bata", to distinguish him from an older fellow pool player by the same name. In addition to pool, Reyes has played international carom billiards, specifically balkline, one-cushion, and three-cushion.
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Reyes was born in Pampanga, Philippines, on August 26, 1954.[12] He moved to Manila at age five to live with his uncle, who owned a pool hall.[13] He cleaned the hall and slept on the tables.[14] Because Reyes was not tall enough to reach the pool table, he played while standing on Coca-Cola cases that he moved around. Reyes started gambling from a young age; he won his first match for money at the age of nine and continued to play money games with locals in the 1960s.
By 1976, other players were avoiding playing Reyes; due to this Reyes started playing other games such as three-cushion billiards and balkline in order to find people who would play him for money.[15] In 1979, the writer John Grissim published the book Billiards, where he wrote an article about his encounter with Reyes, where he described Efren as an "excellent player".[16]
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In 1978, Reyes competed in the Philippines vs. Japan Rotation Competition, where Reyes represented the Philippines alongside Jose Parica, Rodolfo Luat, Jorge Dacer, and Manuel Flores, where the Philippines team won two years in a row until the event ended. In 1979, Reyes defeated Japanese champion Takeshi Okumura to win the All Japan Championship in nine-ball, although not winning the all around title that year.[citation needed]
In 1983, Reyes took on Pepito Dacer in the finals of the Philippine Rotation Championship. The finals were played in race-to-39 and the players competed over 11 racks on a weekly basis. On the seventh week of play, Reyes defeated Dacer 39–32.[17] By the early 1980s, Reyes was considered one of the best players in the country. He was even banned from playing in some tournaments on account of him being too good. This led Reyes to travel to the United States in 1985.[18]
In 1985, at the start of his career in the U.S., he used the alias "Cesar Morales" to hide his identity so he would be allowed to compete unknown.[19] Although shortly after Reyes was discovered, when he won the first tournament he entered in the Houston Red's 9-Ball Open with a field of 108 of the top players in the country. The same year Reyes finished third in the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship.[20]
In 1994, Reyes won the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship by defeating Nick Varner in the finals and became the first non-American to win the event.[21][22] He would reach the final of the US Open 9-ball Championship for three consecutive years in a row in 1995, 1996, and 1997, however Reyes failed to win a US Open title again and lost all three finals. In 1996, Reyes and Earl Strickland were chosen as the two best players in the world, to compete against each other in a challenge match, named after the film The Color of Money.[23] The event was a three-day race-to-120 challenge match of nine-ball.[24] It was held in Hong Kong, with a winner-take-all prize of $100,000.[24] Reyes won the match 120–117 despite being 17 racks behind, to win the prize.[24] In 1999, Reyes won the first televised World Pool Championship that was hosted by Matchroom Pool, earning $60,000, which was the largest first-place prize in a pool tournament. At the time, the tournament was not recognized by the World Pool-Billiard Association, which ran their own event, although they later acknowledged the event was an official WPA World Championship. This made Reyes the second Filipino player after Jose Parica to win a world championship in pocket billiards.[25][26] In 2001, Reyes participated in the 2001 Tokyo 9-Ball Open, the event had over 700 players participating. Reyes dominated the event, beating Niels Feijen in the finals 15–7 and earning $163,000 first prize. At the time, this was the largest first prize in a pool tournament.[27]
Reyes won the 2002 International Challenge of Champions, defeating Mika Immonen in a deciding rack.[28] He reached the final of the 2004 WPA World Eight-ball Championship, where he met Marlon Manalo in the final.[29][30] He trailed 0–4, but won eight straight racks and won the final 11–8.[31] The win made Reyes the first player to win WPA world championships in more than one discipline.[31]
Reyes won the 2005 IPT King of the Hill Eight-ball Shootout, winning $200,000, which was the largest first-place prize of any pool tournament at the time.[32] In the final, he met Mike Sigel in a best-of-three sets match, winning 8–0 in the first set and 8–5 in the second.[33] The following year, Reyes won the IPT World Open Eight-ball Championship over Rodney Morris 8–6, earning $500,000, which is still the largest first-place prize of any pool tournament in history.[34]
Reyes partnered with Francisco Bustamante to represent the Philippines at the inaugural World Cup of Pool. They reached the 2006 final, where they met Earl Strickland and Rodney Morris representing the United States.[35] They won seven consecutive racks to win the final 13–5.[36] He also won the 2009 event once again partnering Bustamante.[37] The pair met the German team of Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann in the final and won 11–9.[38][39][40]
Reyes still actively competes in professional events on occasions, in such events as the Southeast Asian Games, which he won six gold medals[41][42][43] and the Derby City Classic which he is the overall winner on five occasions. In 2023, at the age of 68 years old, Reyes finished third in the Derby City Classic One Pocket, with a field of over 400 players.[44]
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Reyes is known for his highly creative play.[45][46] Reyes is often called by his nickname "Bata", which means "kid" in Filipino, given to him by close friends to distinguish him from an older Efren who also played pool.[47][48] Reyes' ability to play kick shots led to his gaining the nickname "Magician".[49][50] When Reyes first arrived in the United States, he took the name Cesar Morales as he knew that players had heard his name but not seen what he looked like and he wished to continue hustling.[19]
In 2003, Reyes was featured in the Filipino movie Pakners with actor Fernando Poe Jr., which was Poe's last film before his run for presidency and then death later in 2004. Reyes also appeared in the 2007 short film Nineball.[51] In one episode of the TV series Magpakailanman, the story follows a young Efren "Bata" Reyes (portrayed by Anjo Yllana) in his early pool-playing days as he progresses from a money player to a tournament contender.[52]
Reyes lives in Angeles City, with his wife Susan and their three children.[53] He considers balkline to be his favorite cue sport,[54] and plays chess as a hobby.[53]
Despite admitting that his skill had declined by 2019, his games still drew big crowds in the 2019 and 2021 Southeast Asian Games.[55][56]
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Numerous fellow professional players have credited Reyes with being the greatest living player in the world.[57][58] During ESPN television commentary on a semi-final match between Reyes and Mika Immonen at the 2000 BCA Open Nine-ball Championship, veteran professional Billy Incardona stated that Reyes was "indisputably the best player in the world—especially when you consider all games—he can play any game as well as anyone, maybe better than anyone ... In my opinion we're watching probably the greatest player in my lifetime and I've been watching pool for the better part of forty years."[58][59]
In 1995, Billiards Digest magazine named Reyes the Player of the Year.[60] The following year, when Reyes was ranked number one on the United States' Pro Billiards Tour, the June 1996 issue of the magazine featured a poll of "billiard cognoscenti"—pro players, billiards writers, industry insiders and the like—to pick the best in billiards in various categories.[60] Billiards' own elite named Reyes the best one-pocket player of all time.[60] The magazine wrote, "While a bevy of one-pocket geniuses abound, Efren Reyes, whose prowess in one-pocket is sometimes obscured by his 9-ball [sic] stardom, was the popular pick. Is there anything Bata can't do?"[60]
In a 2019 tweet, seven-time World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan said that Reyes was "the only person to ever to [sic] out hustle me on a snooker table"[61]
Reyes became the first Asian to be inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003.[62][63] He was also inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame in 2004.[64] Reyes was appointed Philippine Sports Ambassador for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.[59]
Reyes has been awarded the Philippine Sportswriters Association Sportsman of the Year on three occasions: in 1999, 2001, and 2006.[65] He was given the Philippine Legion of Honor,[66] and included in Time magazine's 60 Asian heroes in 2006.[66] He was also awarded the Philippine Order of Lakandula "Champion for Life Award" in 2006.[67][68]
Reyes was named "Player of the Decade" for the 2000s by the U.S. Billiard Media Association.[69]
Reyes has been the Money Leader for the year seven times: in 1995, 1999, 2001,[70] 2002,[71] 2004,[72] 2005,[73] and 2006.[74] He also holds the record for highest recorded earnings of any pool player, being the most amount of money won in tournament play in a season, winning $645,000 in 2006.[74]
In 2024, Reyes was inducted into the inaugural World Billiards Hall of Fame held at the newly opened World Billiards Museum in Yushan, China.
Reyes was among the five inductees announced in the greatest players category. Also inducted were veteran female pool player Allison Fisher, seven-time World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, Chinese snooker player Ding Junhui, Belgian carom player Raymond Ceulemans, and late Andre Gagnaux, former president of the World Billiard Union (carom).[75]
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In 2024, the Matchroom World Nine-ball Tour announced the Inaugural Reyes Cup in honour of pool's greatest ever player that will take place in Manila, Philippines in partnership with Puyat Sports Inc. and Sky Sports. This is a brand-new Invitational event that will see Asia’s finest players take on team Europe in a 5v5 team events. The teams compete over one team match, several doubles matches and singles matches, with the first team to win 11 matches claiming victory.[76]
Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer added: “The Reyes Cup sees a dream become a reality. Thanks to our partners at Sky Sports, the 30-year success of the Mosconi Cup has paved the way to deliver this format to a global audience. Given the storied history the Philippines has on the sport, it is only right that we honour Efren in his home country. It was a privilege to welcome him and dear friend Putch Puyat to the Hanoi Open last year. Efren’s passion for the sport has been unwavering for over 50 years, he is the perfect figurehead for this tournament and our sport. I couldn’t be more delighted than to be working alongside such a legend and organisation in Puyat Sports.”[77]
Mr Aristeo “Putch” Puyat said: “The Efren Reyes Cup is not just a tournament; it’s a testament to the passion and dedication that Efren Reyes has brought to the world of pool. Teaming up with Matchroom Sports, we at Puyat Sports are thrilled to bring this event to our home country, further solidifying the Philippines’ status as a hub for billiards excellence.”[78]
Efren “Bata” Reyes said: “I am truly humbled and honored that Matchroom has chosen to name this prestigious event after me. The Efren Reyes Cup is not just a tournament; it’s a celebration of the sport we love, and I am excited to see the pool community come together for its first edition in the Philippines.”[79]
Awards and recognitions
International
- 1995 Billiards Digest Player of the Year[80]
- 2003 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame[81]
- 2004 One Pocket Hall of Fame[82]
- 2006 Time Magazine's 60 Asian heroes[83]
- 2010 U.S. Billiard Media Association Player of the Decade - 2000s[84]
- 2018 Asian Culture Day Lifetime Achievement Award[85]
- 2024 World Billiards Museum Hall of Fame[86]
National
- 1999 Philippine Legion of Honor
- 1999 The Outstanding Filipino Award
- 1999 Philippine Sportsman of the Year
- 2001 Philippine Sportsman of the Year
- 2006 Philippine Sportsman of the Year
- 2006 Order of Lakandula Champion for Life Award
- 2010 Philippine Sports Hall of Fame
- 2019 Philippine Sports Lifetime Achievement Award
Titles and achievements
Reyes is a winner of over 100 professional tournaments, including:[63]
- WPA World Eight-ball Championship (2004)[87]
- WPA World Nine-ball Championship (1999)[88]
- U.S. Open Nine-ball Championships (1994)[89]
- U.S. Open One-Pocket Championship (2000,[90] 2011[91])
- PBT Riviera Eight-ball Championship (1995,[92] 1996)
- PBT Riviera Team Championship (1993)
- Sands Regency Nine-ball Open (1985, 1986, 1995, 1999)[93]
- Las Vegas Nine-ball Open (2003)
- Masters Nine-ball Championship (1988, 2001)
- Manny Pacquiao Ten-ball Championship (2014)
- Predator International Ten-ball Championship (2010)
- Derby City Classic
- WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour
- ESPN Challenge
- Tokyo Open Nine-ball (1992, 2001)[93]
- Japan Open Nine-ball (2005)
- All Japan Championship (1979, 1990, 1999, 2003)[93]
- International Pool Tour
- International Challenge of Champions (2002)[117]
- World Cup of Pool (2006, 2009) - with (Francisco Bustamante)[118]
- World Pool League (2001, 2002)[119]
- World Mixed Doubles Classic - with Rubilen Amit (2009, [120]2011, [121] )
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