'The Magician' dazzles fans and foes alike

'The Magician' dazzles fans and foes alike

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

Efren Reyes may not have won the A Mild Billiard International
Bali Open, but that did little to damage his standing as one of
the world's biggest and most popular pool stars.

Reyes' deft displays of skill on the pool table earned him the
nickname "The Magician", and inside and outside the pool hall the
50-year-old Filipino remains a major attraction.

The failure to make his best showing in Bali must have been a
disappointment to Reyes after he began his Indonesian tour with a
victory in the second leg of the San Miguel Asian 9-ball
Championship in Jakarta the previous week.

In Jakarta, Reyes showed his "magic" in his run past Robby
Suarly of Indonesia, and Kuo Po-Cheng, Wu Chia Ching and Yang
Chin Sun, all from Chinese Taipei.

Reyes pulled off a string of difficult shots, such as a
combination shot to pocket a ball in a difficult position and
pocketing one ball while nudging another into position for his
next shot.

"I always try to entertain my fans when I play," he said
recently.

"I have many fans and friends in Jakarta and I was keen to
give them some fun too."

Not only does Reyes entertain with his shots, but he amuses
fans with his gestures and body language.

He also has shown the ability to avoid being drawn into
serious answers by questioning journalists. When asked who he
would like to face in the final of the Jakarta tournament, Reyes
said with a laugh: "I would love to play a weak player so that I
can become champion."

It is not only the fans who enjoy Reyes, but his opponents, in
this case Wu Chia Ching, admit to being entertained and impressed
by Reyes.

"The way Reyes plays is always nice to see. He has a touch in
his game," Wu said.

Born in Pampanga, the Philippines, on Aug. 26, 1954, Reyes
moved to Manila when he was five. When he was older, he began
working as an attendant in his uncle's pool hall and also started
playing games for money.

After establishing himself as one of the best players in the
Philippines, he started playing in the United States in the
1980s, still as a money player. He went on to win major
tournaments against the best players in the U.S.

Over the next few years Reyes established himself as one of
the best 9-ball players in the U.S. and the world, being named
the Billiards Digest's 1995 Player of the Year.

He was the 1999 World Pool champion and the World 8-ball
champion in 1995, 1996 and 2000.

Now that he has turned 50, some people might expect him to
begin slowing down after such a successful career. But not Reyes,
who sees no reason he cannot continue to play pool at an elite
level.

"I have no plans to retire. I will play billiards in
tournaments until my hands are shaking and I cannot shoot
anymore," he said.