| Efren "Bata" Reyes |
 Photo:Azbilliards.com The Magician Born : August 26,1954 Cue: Meucci 21 oz., 12.5 mm shaft Sponsor: AMF Puyat Nickname: Bata, The Magician, Alias: Cesar Morales Efren Reyes, grew up in Angeles City, Pampanga and moved to Manila at age 5. His uncle had a Billiard Hall called Lucky 13 and he had to stand on cases of coke just to be able to play pool. Efren was called "Bata" to distinguish him from an older Efren. When he was 9, he was hustling for money. He got inspired when a man got paid by beating another man. He played at his uncle's Lucky 13 or Rommel's in Manila, usually against Chinese kids who challenged him. He dropped out when he was 15, a decision his parents accepted after he started adding his winnings to what his father earned as a vendor. At that stage, he didn't seek out top players because they were harder to beat; his ambition was to get paid, not to be the best. But to get paid the big money, he soon had to play the best. He invaded the US and he had to change his name to Cesar Morales just to be allowed to compete. Apparently the name Efren Reyes was being flagged already by the Americans. By the mid-1990's, he became one of the elite players from the Philippines alongside Jose Parica and Francisco Bustamante. Efren Reyes is the 2002 International Challenge of Champions winner, the 2003 Mid-Atlantic 9-Ball Open Champion, the 1999 World 9-Ball Champion, and was the 1999 Player of the Year. He was also inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 2003. He had won almost every major title, including the $500,000 prize in the 2006 International Pool Tour World 8 Ball Championship in Reno, Nevada by defeating Rodney Morris 8-6. By the way, $500,000 is the biggest prize in pool history. In 2006, Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented their country as Team Philippines in the inaugural World Cup of Pool. They defeated Team USA, formed by Earl Strickland and Rodney Morris, to capture the title.
As a player in professional pool, Reyes has been known to have won a number of money-rich tournaments worldwide. This makes him one of the most profitable players around. To prove it, he topped AZ Billiards Money List 5 times; 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2006 he set a record by earning $646K in a single year. Efren Reyes's pool prowess is often compared to Michael Jordan's basketball greatness and Tiger Woods' golf dominance. He's the man to beat. He can make shots that the other cue masters wouldn't think as possible. That's why he is called "The Magician".
Efren has been dominating for decades. He's 53 years old now and he's got a lot of wear and tear. He lost some of his touch. Nevertheless, in sports, a legend usually pulls one more spectacular performance. Or maybe two, we don't know. Commendations: - The Outstanding Filipino awardee of the Philippines Jaycees
2007 Tournament Results: $20,000.00 1st Derby City Classic Master of the Table Bonus $12,000.00 1st Derby City Classic One Pocket Event $350.00 42nd Derby City Classic 9-Ball Event $2,000.00 9th place World 8-Ball Championship $2,194.00 4th place San Miguel Beer Philippine 9-Ball Open $5,000.00 5th place 2007 World Cup of Pool $1,500.00 1st place Q-Masters US Open Warm Up One Pocket Event $2,000.00 13th US Open 9-Ball Championship $2,000.00 33 place 2007 World Pool Championship $2,311.00 5th place All Japan Open
2007 Winnings: $54,355.00 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efren_Reyes http://azbilliards.com/thepros/2000showplayer2007.cfm?playernum=228 http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,188599,00.html http://www.easypooltutor.com/bios1.html
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