Efren Reyes is a Philipino professional pool player. He has won over 100 professional tournaments, making him one of history’s most successful pool players. He is the first man in history to win the World Championships in 2 disciplines.
Reyes has also won the World Pool Championship, the US Open Nine-Ball Championship, the World Pool League, and the Derby City Classic, among other events.
Here, we have Efren Reyes’ net worth, career earnings, achievements, biography, family, and more.
Efren Reyes’ Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Efren Manalang Reyes |
| Date of Birth | August 26, 1954 |
| Age | 70 (in 2025) |
| Education | N/A |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Height | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
| Turned Pro | 1978 |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Career Prize Earnings | $2,325,977 |
| Wife | Susan Reyes |
| Instagram Profile | N/A |
| Twitter Profile | N/A |
Early Career
Born in Angeles City, Pampanga, Efren Reyes spent his earliest years moving with his family to Manila at age five. Life was far from easy, but his uncle’s billiard hall became both playground and classroom.
Too short to see over the table, young Efren propped himself on Coca-Cola crates and practiced every evening, often falling asleep atop the very pool bed that he dreamed of mastering.
By his teens he was gambling small stakes on three-cushion matches and quick-money games, honing a creative shot repertoire born of necessity. Promoters eventually noticed his uncanny ability to navigate perilous clusters of balls and bank shots that seemed to defy geometry.
Adopting the nickname “Bata” (Tagalog for “kid”) to distinguish him from an older player of the same name, he slipped into tournaments under aliases to stay under the radar, racking up local wins before setting his sights on bigger prizes abroad.
Professional Career
Reyes first captured international headlines in 1994 when he became the first non-American to lift the U.S. Open Nine-Ball Championship, toppling veteran Nick Varner in a hard-fought final.
Two years later, he faced Earl Strickland in the inaugural “Color of Money” race-to-120 in Hong Kong, surging back from a 17-rack deficit to claim a record $100,000 winner-take-all purse. That stunning comeback earned him the enduring nickname “The Magician.”
In 1999 he added the WPA World Nine-Ball crown to his résumé and in 2004 became the first player ever to win world titles in two disciplines by snagging the WPA World Eight-Ball Championship. Between those peak years, Reyes dominated the Derby City Classic—amassing more titles than any other competitor—and collected multiple Masters of the Table honors.
He also teamed with Francisco Bustamante to win the World Cup of Pool in 2006 and again in 2009, and racked up victories on the Asian Nine-Ball Tour, All-Japan Championship, World Pool League and International Challenge of Champions.
Inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003, Reyes has remained a perennial draw at major events and Southeast Asian Games well into his seventies.
Wife
Efren Reyes credits much of his off-table stability to his wife, Susan, whom he met in Manila before turning professional. The couple settled in Angeles City and have three children together.
Their son, Frennie, followed his father into cue sports competition on the Asian Nine-Ball Tour, while their two daughters have pursued their own passions outside of billiards.
Despite a globe-trotting career, Reyes makes time to host family game nights—sometimes trading the pool cue for a chessboard, another hobby he picked up between tournaments. Susan has managed many of his local exhibition dates and keeps a low profile, focusing on raising their children away from the spotlight.
Nickname
A renowned Filipino professional pool player, Efren Reyes is known by two primary nicknames: “The Magician” and “Bata.”
He was nicknamed “The Magician” at the pool table for his exceptional skill and creativity. He made difficult shots look easy and pulled off seemingly impossible shots.
He was nicknamed “Bata”, “kid” in Tagalog, due to his youthful appearance and prodigious skills in his early years.
Efren Reyes’ Net Worth Details
Efren Reyes’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million as of 2025. His wealth has been accumulated through his successful career as a professional pool player, which includes tournament winnings, endorsements, and various ventures within the billiards industry.
Career Earnings
Reyes has had a remarkable career, winning over 100 professional tournaments and setting earnings records.
Notably, he holds the record for the highest recorded earnings of any pool player in a single season, having won $645,000 in 2006.
This was largely due to his victory in the IPT World Open Eight-ball, where he secured a $500,000 first-place prize, the largest prize awarded in any pool tournament.
Throughout his career, Reyes has topped the AZB money leaderboard in several years, with significant earnings such as $644,960 in 2006, $279,169 in 2005, and $230,362 in 2001.
In recent years, his tournament earnings have been more modest: $7,700 in 2023, $1,950 in 2022, and $5,115 in 2021.
| Year | Earnings |
| 2023 | $7,700 |
| 2022 | $1,950 |
| 2021 | $5,115 |
| 2010 | $93,709 |
| 2009 | $53,075 |
| 2008 | $10,677 |
| 2007 | $54,355 |
| 2006 | $644,960 |
| 2005 | $279,169 |
| 2004 | $124,150 |
| 2003 | $106,050 |
| 2002 | $126,200 |
| 2001 | $230,362 |
Endorsements
Beyond prize money, Reyes’ income is bolstered by sponsorships with leading billiards equipment and consumer brands. He has appeared in promotional campaigns for Predator cues and accessories, partnered with San Miguel Beer in the Philippines, and lent his image to Puyat Sporting Goods. His marketability stems from a blend of world-champion pedigree and an everyman persona that resonates with fans across Asia and beyond.
Career Stats
| Metric | Overall Career |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 199 |
| Wins | 139 |
| Losses | 60 |
| Win Ratio | 69.85% |
| Hill-to-Hill Record | 51.61% (16/31) |
| Opponent Beaten Most | Dennis Orcollo (5 wins) |
| Opponent Who Beat Him Most | Lee Vann Corteza (3 losses) |
FAQs
1. What is Reyes’s nickname and how did he earn it?
His nickname “The Magician” reflects his inventive shot-making, uncanny position play, and ability to perform complex shots that transformed modern pool strategy and captivated fans worldwide.
2. How many international titles has Reyes won?
He has amassed over 100 international titles across diverse disciplines, including nine-ball, eight-ball, one-pocket, and more, making him one of the most decorated players in pool history.
3. What historic achievement did Reyes accomplish at the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship?
In 1994, he became the first non-American to win the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship by defeating Nick Varner in the final, a victory that elevated his status to global phenomenon.
4. Which major world championships has Reyes won and in what years?
Reyes captured the WPA World Nine-Ball Championship in 1999 and the WPA World Eight-Ball Championship in 2004, becoming the first player ever to secure world titles in more than one pool discipline.
5. How did Reyes begin his professional pool career?
Born in Pampanga, Philippines, Reyes first learned billiards by caddying and assisting at his uncle’s pool hall, hustling for money as a teenager before moving to Manila to compete in local tournaments.
