Player Profile Series: Billiards' "Lion Heart" Alex Pagulayan
3
Player Profile Series: “The Magician” Efren “Bata” Reyes
Efren “Bata” Reyes is a legendary figure, known as “The Magician” in the world of pool or billiards. He is a Filipino professional pool player who has won many world championships in two different pool disciplines.
He was a four-time World Eight-Ball Champion, the 1999 WPA World Nine-Ball Championship winner, a three-time U.S. Open winner, a two-time World Pool League Champion, a four-time All Japan Championship winner, a seven-time Asian Nine-Ball Tour Champion, and a thirteen-time Derby City Classic winner.
Reyes is also a four-time World Eight-Ball Champion, the 1999 WPA World Nine-Ball Championship winner, a three-time U.S. Open winner, a two-time World Pool League Champion, a four-time All Japan Championship winner, a seven-time Asian Nine-Ball Tour Champion, and a thirteen-time Derby City Classic winner.
In 2006 and 2009, Reyes represented the country with his partner Francisco Bustamante at the World Cup of Pool and won the event.
EFREN REYES
Full name: Efren Manalang Reyes
Nickname: "The Magician", "Bata"
Age: 70 years old
Birth Date: August 26, 1954
Hometown: Angeles City, Pampanga
Achievements:
International
1995 Billiards Digest Player of the Year
2003 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
2004 One Pocket Hall of Fame
2006 Time Magazine's 60 Asian heroes
2010 U.S. Billiard Media Association Player of the Decade - 2000s
2018 Asian Culture Day Lifetime Achievement Award
2024 World Billiards Museum Hall of Fame
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
In 2023, he took home third-place honors in the Derby City Classic One Pocket Tournament in Southern Indiana, USA. Beating much younger opponents on his way to the semifinals, the 68-year-old cue legend reminded everyone why he is widely regarded as the best pool player to ever do it.
In 2024, after commemorating his 70th birthday, he launched the Efren Reyes Cup in the country in honor of the sport’s greatest player and tournament namesake.
This annual five-on-five tournament between Asia and Europe is dedicated in Reyes' name. The inaugural Reyes Cup pitted the best cue artists from Team Asia—captained by Efren "Bata" Reyes himself—against those from Team Europe. Team Asia, led by the legendary pool player and professional athlete Efren “Bata” Reyes, brought home the inaugural Reyes Cup after scoring 11 against Europe’s 6 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
As of this writing, Reyes is considered the greatest billiards player in the world, followed by Earl Strickland and Shane Van Boening.
