EFREN "BATA" REYES
The world's best pool player sees shots no one else can.
The Magician
Efren “Bata” Reyes is more popularly known in the world of pool as “The Magician”. He is one of the world’s most famous pool player alive today. Efren claims that he could see the game eight moves in advance. In order to be a good pool player, one has to quickly see probabilities. Efren’s strength is his analytical thinking and skill in calculating his shots. When others don’t see a way to make a good shot, Efren manages to find one and flawlessly executes it. He was called the magician for that very reason.
A winner of over 70 international titles, Reyes is the first man in history to win World Championships in two different disciplines. Besides his World titles he is also a 14-time Derby City Classic champion, a two-time World Cup champion, and a two-time World Pool League champion. By defeating Earl Strickland in the inaugural Color of Money event in 1996, Reyes took home the largest single event purse in pool history.He is the first non-American winner of the US Open Nine Ball Championship and named by the United States Billiards Media Association’s the best player of the decade. In 2003, Reyes was featured in the Filipino movie Pakners with the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr., which his last film before he run for President in 2004, and later his death in later part of 2004. Reyes also appeared in the 2007 short film Nineball.
AZ Billiards Money included him in their list five times as the Most Profitable Billiards Player since 2001 and he is a recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor and the Philippine Order of Lakandula "Champion for Life Award". Reyes is the first Asian to be inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame. He won the biggest first prize in a pool tournament many times. He was named by TIME as one of 60 Asian Heroes because of the way he changed the image of pool not only in his country but in the whole world.
After all that he has achieved, Efren remains his cheery self. He doesn’t even wear dentures even though he could very much afford one now. It makes him uncomfortable. The same could be said about fame and 온라인경마 fortune. If anything, Efren wants to live his life the way it was before he became known worldwide: simple and free of complications. Efren has his money invested in business with proceeds going to his nephews, nieces, and children’s education. Nothing makes him happier than seeing his loved ones well provided for. In fact, that was exactly what propelled him to become the best in his chosen field. Perhaps, athletes of this generation could learn from this man who rose from poverty and gained the whole world but still acts like he’s got nothing. Read more...