Efren "Bata" Reyes (born August 26, 1954), is widely considered to be one of history's greatest practitioners of pocket billiards (sometimes called "pool"), especially the games of nine ball and one-pocket. He is widely referred to as "The Magician" for having made some of the most spectacular shots seen in tournament play (see nickname discussion, infra). Reyes has won many of the most prestigious nine-ball tournaments, including multiple wins at the Sands Regency Open; the 1994 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship; the 1995 Pro Tour Championship; and the 2002 ESPN Challenge of Champions. He is also known for having won a two day winner-take-all marathon nine ball event, known as the Color of Money I and the Color of Money II edging out in the finals another top nine ball player, Earl Strickland. In 2005, he weathered a round robin to challenge the reigning king of the Kevin Trudeau sponsored IPT, personally picked by Trudeau from 'retirement' as the best in the world. Reyes bested him very easily. He has a niche in the Billiards Hall of Fame.
Reyes was born in Pampanga in 1954 and moved to Manila with his family, at the age of 5. In Manila, he worked as a billiards attendant at his uncle's billiards hall, where he started learning the various cue sports. At a young age, he played for money, and in the sixties and seventies, played three cushion billiards. By the time he was 20, he had claimed to be the best player in the Philippines, which is very likely considering successes in the United States and in Europe against some of the best 9-ball players in the world. At present, he lives in his home town of Angeles City, Philippines.
In the eighties, Bata Reyes started playing in the United States, mostly as a money player. By the nineties, he was winning major tournaments against top players in the U.S. In 1995 he won 6 major events, and at the time was considered the best 9-ball player in the country. He continued to win major events through the new millennium and has proven himself to be one of the best players to ever pick up a cue--especially in nine ball. In 2001, he posted unprecedented tournament winnings of just over $200,000.
In 2003, Mr. Reyes was featured in the Filipino movie Pakners with the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr. That same year he was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame.