Efren Manalang Reyes is a professional pool player from the Philippines who is famous for his high level of skill and his spectacular kick shots. He was born on the 26th of August,1954 in Pampanga, Philippines and through the years has earned himself the nickname “The Magician” due to his ability to kick object balls into the intended pocket with ease.
First brush with pool
Efren Reyes was first exposed to the game of pool at the tender age of five, when he started to work at his uncle’s billiards room as a billiards attendant, after his family moved to Manila. As his interest in the game grew, his extraordinary skill game him the opportunity to participate in large tournaments where he gained popularity.
Rise to fame
By the time he was in his 20s, Efren Reyes was considered to be one of the best pool players in the local region, but he was yet to achieve international recognition. During this time, he travelled to other parts of Asia, Europe and US where he won a number of tournaments, quickly making a name for himself in the game. By the early 90s, Efren Reyes was considered to be one of the best pool players of the Philippines. He became a world renowned player when he won the 1994 US Open Nine Ball Championship be facing off against Nick Varner over the pool table.
Achievements
Efren Reyes was the first non-American to have won the US Open Nine Ball Championship back in 1994. He then went on to win the International Billiard Tournament held in 2001 in Tokyo and the International Challenge of Champions held in 2002. After beating Marlon Manalo in 2004 to become the first WPA World Eight Ball Champion, Efren Reyes became the first player in the history of WPA to become a world champion in two disciplines. He has gone on to win a series of tournaments in subsequent years forging his name as one of the greatest players in the history of pool. Although he is presently over sixty years old, professional players are still intimidated by the skill exhibited by Efren Reyes over the pool table.
