Player Profile Series: “The Magician” Efren “Bata” 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

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.

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.