Efren Reyes

Efren Manalang Reyes is a legendary professional pool player from the Philippines.

He is widely regarded by analysts, fans, and fellow players as the greatest pool player of all time. Because of his incredible skill on the table, he earned the nickname "the Magician." His close friends also call him "Bata," which is a Filipino word for "kid" or "child." This nickname helps people distinguish him from an older player who shares his name. Reyes has achieved a level of success that few in the history of the sport can match.

His journey toward greatness began with very humble circumstances in Pampanga, Philippines. Born on August 26, 1954, Reyes moved to Manila at age five to live with his uncle. His uncle owned a pool hall where Reyes worked and slept on the tables. Because he was not tall enough to reach the pool tables, he used Coca-Cola cases to stand on while playing. He won his first match for money at only nine years old. During the 1960s and 1970s, he focused on competing in three-cushion billiards. Eventually, promoters discovered his talent, which allowed him to enter larger tournaments.

In the 1980s, Reyes traveled to the United States to hustle and earn money. During this time, he used the alias "Cesar Morales" to hide his true identity. He did this so he could compete without other players knowing who he was. He claimed to have earned $80,000 in a single week while working in the U.S. This success made him a folk hero in the Philippines. His international reputation grew as he began winning major tournaments across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Reyes has won over 100 international titles throughout his long career. He was the first player to win world championships in two different pool disciplines. He is a four-time World Eight-ball champion and won the 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship. He also won the U.S. Open Nine-ball Championship in 1994, becoming the first non-American to win that event. His dominance is seen in many different styles, including one-pocket and various nine-ball tournaments.

One of his most famous victories occurred in 1997 during an event called The Color of Money. Held in Hong Kong, this was a three-day race-to-120 challenge match of nine-ball. Reyes faced American player Earl Strickland in a winner-take-all match. Even though he trailed by 17 racks, Reyes won the match 120–117. This victory earned him $100,000, which was the largest single match purse in pool history. Later, in 2001, he won the Tokyo 9-Ball Open, earning a $163,000 first prize. This was the largest first prize in a pool tournament at that time.

Reyes has also found great success in team competitions. He represented the Philippines at the World Cup of Pool alongside partner Francisco Bustamante. The pair won the tournament in both 2006 and 2009. In the 2006 final, they won seven consecutive racks to beat the United States team 13–5. His ability to perform under pressure has led to many massive payouts. In 2006, he won the IPT World Open Eight-ball Championship, which carried a $500,000 prize.

His legendary status is reflected in many prestigious honors and hall of fame inductions. He was the first Asian player inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2024, he was also inducted into the inaugural World Billiards Hall of Fame in China. He has been named the Player of the Decade for the 2000s by the U.S. Billiard Media Association.

In the Philippines, he has received the Philippine Legion of Honor and the Order of Lakandula. Even as he continues to play professionally, his influence on the sport remains unmatched.