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Bata Reyes dazzles fans, players in World Pool Championship

Sports

Bata Reyes dazzles fans, players in World Pool Championship

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

At A Glance

Billiards icon Efren "Bata" Reyes was given rockstar treatment recently when he attended the 2024 World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Billiards icon Efren “Bata” Reyes was given rockstar treatment recently when he attended the 2024 World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time, the 69-year-old cue artist nicknamed “The Magician” was seen being escorted inside the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal City Sports Hall during the said nine-ball tournament.

Billiards icon Efren "Bata" Reyes shares a moment with a young player during the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Matchroom Pool)

Several posts from Matchroom Pool showed Reyes meeting several players competing in the tournament, and even holding the championship trophy.

Organizers also hosted a meet-and-greet session for Reyes and his fans.

“An absolute honor to have Efren Reyes with us here at the World Pool Championship. LEGEND!” Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer wrote in a social media post.

Reyes was the first Filipino to win in the said nine-ball tournament in 1999, where he defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chang Hao-ping, 17-8, held in Cardiff, Wales.

Four more Filipinos followed suit in winning the event that included Alex Pagulayan in 2004, Ronnie Alcano in 2006, Francisco “Django” Bustamante in 2010, and Carlo Biado in 2017.

Johann Chua was the best Filipino finisher in this year’s edition with a semifinal finish, losing to Eklent Kaci of Turkey, 11-6.

Related Tags

World Pool Championship Efren Bata Reyes

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