Efren Reyes

Pool Player

Filipino Pampanga, Philippines

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Quick Info

ProfessionPool Player
NationalityFilipino
Date of Birth26/08/1954
Age71 years
BirthplacePampanga, Philippines

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Bio/Wiki

Early Life
  • Born in Pampanga, Philippines.
  • Moved to Manila at age five.
  • Started playing pool by standing on Coca-Cola cases.
  • Won his first money match at age nine.
  • Moved to Manila with his family at age five.
  • Worked as a billiards attendant at his uncle's billiards hall.
  • Started learning various cue sports at his uncle's hall.
  • Played while standing on Coca-Cola cases because he was not tall enough to reach the pool table.
  • Used the pool table as his bed at night while dreaming of playing pool.
  • Called 'Bata' (Filipino for 'Kid') to distinguish him from another older pool player named Efren.
Professional Career
  • Won the WPA World Nine-ball and Eight-ball Championships.
  • First non-American to win the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship.
  • Won over 100 international titles.
  • Nicknamed 'The Magician' for his pool skills.
  • Played under the alias 'Cesar Morales' early in his U.S. career.
  • Won over 70 international titles throughout his career.
  • First player in history to win World Championships in two different disciplines in pool.
  • Four-time World 8-Ball Champion.
  • 1999 WPA World 9-Ball Champion, defeating Chong Hao Ping 17-8 in Cardiff, Wales. First player from the Philippines to win this title.
  • Three-time U.S. Open winner.
  • 14-time Derby City Classic champion.
  • Two-time World Cup champion, winning the inaugural World Cup of Pool in 2006 with a 13-5 victory over the U.S. duo of Earl Strickland and Rodney Morris, and reclaiming the title in 2009 with an 11-9 comeback victory against Germany.
  • Two-time World Pool League champion.
  • Won the 2006 IP World Open 8-Ball Championship in Reno, Nevada, defeating Rodney Morris 8-6 and claiming a record-breaking first place prize of $500,000.
  • Shocked the American pool community early in his career by defeating top U.S. players including Wade Crane and Earl Strickland.
  • Earned gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games across multiple cue sports disciplines.
  • Over 100 professional tournament victories.
  • Inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame.
  • Full name: Efren Manalang Reyes.
  • Awards: Order of Lakandula (OLD), PLH.

Personal Life

WifeSusan
Children3

Family

SpouseSusan
Children3

Career

Early Life
  • Born in Pampanga, Philippines, moved to Manila at age five.
  • Started playing pool by standing on Coca-Cola cases.
  • Won his first money match at age nine.
  • Moved to Manila with his family at age five.
  • Worked as a billiards attendant at his uncle's billiards hall where he learned various cue sports.
  • Played while standing on Coca-Cola cases due to his height.
Professional Career
  • Won the WPA World Nine-ball and Eight-ball Championships.
  • First non-American to win the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship.
  • Won over 100 international titles.
  • Won over 70 international titles.
  • First player to win World Championships in two different pool disciplines.
  • Four-time World 8-Ball Champion.
  • 1999 WPA World 9-Ball Champion.
  • Three-time U.S. Open winner.
  • 14-time Derby City Classic champion.
  • Two-time World Cup champion.
  • Two-time World Pool League champion.
  • 2006 IP World Open 8-Ball Championship winner with record $500,000 first place prize.
  • Over 100 professional tournament victories.
  • BCA Hall of Fame inductee.

Favourites

Cue SportBalkline
HobbyChess

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Nicknamed 'The Magician' for his pool skills.
2. Played under the alias 'Cesar Morales' early in his U.S. career.
3. Called 'Bata' (meaning 'Kid' in Filipino) to distinguish him from another older player named Efren.
4. Learned magic shots from less skilled players by observing their techniques.
5. One of the most decorated Filipino cue sports athletes in Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games history.
6. Pioneered pinpoint precision kicking in pool, revolutionizing the sport in the U.S.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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