Efren "Bata" Reyes

Here's my attempt at art, depicting the man I think in his prime was probably the best all-around player of all time. His nickname is "The Magician," not because he performs magic but because he does things that other people don't understand or ever conceived of as being possible. Efren and "The Leader of the Invasion" Jose Parica changed the face of American pool by introducing new ideas into how some situations are played (kicking with the idea of doing more than just hitting the ball). He plays (even now) all games including 3 cushion billiards at a world class level. A contender at any tournament, Efren is still considered the best one-pocket player in the world. He won the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship in 1994, was the Derby City Classic All-Around Champion more than once, most recently in 2007 and inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003.

He's also a very nice person. After a match at the 2007 Derby City as he was leaving the tournament area to rest for his next match, a guy came up and asked if he'd talk to his friend (apparently a big fan) on a cell phone. He shrugged his shoulders and proceded to talk to a complete stranger for about 20 minutes. When he was done he had only about 30 minutes till his next match. Rather than getting angry when he misses a shot, he often just smiles and scratches his head.

I sized this image 640X480 so it would fit nicely on a computer screen. Feel free to download it. I like it as my "desktop" image.

If you are interested in trying to understand the special affection the Filipinos have for Efren, check out this short essay and video: Filipinos Love Efren.

Here's some of the major events Efren has won but doesn't include smaller events or tournaments he placed high but didn't win.

2007 Derby City Classic - All-Around Champion
2005 IPT King of the Hill Champion
2005 Derby City Classic One-Pocket Division
2005 Derby City Classic 9-Ball
2005 Derby City Classic All-Around Champion
2004 Derby City Classic All-Around Champion
2004 Derby City Classic One Pocket Division
2004 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour Stop 1
2004 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour Stop 2
2004 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour Stop 3
2004 On Cue 3: Continental Conquest
2004 World 8-Ball Championship
2003 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour Stop 2
2003 BCA 9-Ball Open Championship
2003 World Classic Billiards Tournament
2003 Mid Atlantic 9-Ball Championship
2002 Challenge of Champions
2002 World Pool League Championship
2001 Tokyo 9-Ball Championship
2001 World Pool League Championship
2001 Masters 9-Ball Championship
2001 Color of Money II Winner
2001 Supreme Masters of Billiards
2000 U.S. Open One-Pocket Championship
2000 Camel Pro 8-Ball Championship
2000 Pennsylvania State 9-Ball Championship
2000 USA Billiards Challenger
1999 ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge
1999 Victor Chandler World Pool Championship
1999 Derby City Classic - One-Pocket Championship
1999 Sands Regency Open 29 9-Ball Championship
1999 All Japan Championship (Japan Open)
1998 World 8-Ball Championship
1998 South Jersey 10-Ball Championship
1996 Sands Regency Open 9-Ball Championship
1996 The Color of Money 9-Ball Champion (Reyes vs Strickland)
1996 PBT World 8-Ball Championship
1996 Legends 9-Ball Championship
1996 Florida Flare Up III 9-Ball Championship
1996 Western Open 9-Ball Championship
1995 Maine Event 14.1 Championships
1995 Sands Regency Open 21 9-Ball Championship
1995 PBT World 8 Ball Championship
1995 Pro Tour 9-Ball Championship
1995 Player of the Year
1994 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
1993 World Team Championship (Team Philippines)
1992 International 8-Ball Classic
1992 World 9-Ball Open (Tokyo)
1990 World Cup (Taipei)
1988 McDermott Masters
1987 SEA Games Gold Medalist (snooker)
1986 Sands Regency 9-Ball Championship
1985 Sands Regency 9-Ball Championship
1985 Houston Red's Open (under the name "Ceasar Morales")