32 Facts About Efren Reyes

Efren Reyes represented the Philippines at the World Cup of Pool, winning the event with his partner Francisco Bustamante in 2006 and 2009.

Efren Reyes defeated American legend Earl Strickland in The Color of Money challenge match in 1996, in a winner-take-all prize of $100,000.

Efren Reyes was born in Pampanga, Philippines, on August 26,1954.

Efren Reyes moved to Manila aged five to live with his uncle who owned a pool hall.

Efren Reyes cleaned the hall and would sleep on the tables.

Efren Reyes started gambling from a young age, he won his first match for money at the age of nine and continued to play money games with locals in the 1960s.

In 1978, Efren Reyes competed in the Philippines vs Japan Rotation Competition, where Efren Reyes represented the Philippines alongside Jose Parica, Rodolfo Luat, Jorge Dacer and Manuel Flores, where the Philippines team won two years in a row until the event ended.

In 1979, Efren Reyes defeated Japanese champion Takeshi Okumura to win the All Japan Championship in nine-ball, although not winning the all around title that year.

In 1983, Efren Reyes took on Pepito Dacer in the finals of the Philippine Rotation Championship.

Efren Reyes was even banned from playing in some tournaments on account of him being too good.

Efren Reyes began winning a number of tournaments in the United States and in Asia, traveling back and forth between the two, garnering attention and recognition internationally.

In 1994, Efren Reyes won the US Open 9-Ball Championship by defeating Nick Varner in the finals and became the first non-American to win the event.

In 1999, Efren Reyes won the first televised World Pool Championship that was hosted by Matchroom Pool, earning $60,000, which was the largest first place prize in a pool tournament.

In 2001, Efren Reyes participated in the 2001 Tokyo 9-Ball Open, the event had over 700 players participating.

Efren Reyes reached the final of the 2004 WPA World Eight-ball Championship, where he met Marlon Manalo in the final.

Efren Reyes won the 2005 IPT King of the Hill Eight-ball Shootout, winning $200,000, which was the largest first place prize of any pool tournament at the time.

Efren Reyes partnered with Francisco Bustamante to represent the Philippines at the inaugural World Cup of Pool.

Efren Reyes won the 2009 event partnering Bustamante.

In 2023, at the age of 68 years old, Efren Reyes finished third in the Derby City Classic One Pocket, with a field of over 400 players.

Reyes is often called by his nickname "", which means "kid" in Filipino, given to him by close friends to distinguish him from an older Efren who played pool.

When Efren Reyes first arrived in the United States, he took the name Cesar Morales as he knew that players had heard his name but not seen what he looked like and he wished to continue hustling.

In 2003, Efren Reyes was featured in the Filipino movie Pakners with actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Efren Reyes considers balkline to be his favorite cue sport, and plays chess as a hobby.

Efren Reyes became the first Asian to be inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003.

Efren Reyes was inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame in 2004.

Efren Reyes was appointed Philippine Sports Ambassador for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

Efren Reyes has been awarded the Philippine Sportswriters Association Sportsman of the Year on three occasions: in 1999,2001 and 2006.

Efren Reyes was given the Philippine Legion of Honor, and included in Time magazine's 60 Asian heroes in 2006.

Efren Reyes was awarded the Philippine Order of Lakandula "Champion for Life Award" in 2006.

Efren Reyes has been the Money Leader for the year seven times: in 1995,1999,2001,2002,2004,2005 and 2006.

Efren Reyes holds the record for highest recorded earnings of any pool player, being the most amount of money won in tournament play in a season, winning $645,000 in 2006.

Efren Reyes is a winner of over 100 professional tournaments, including:.