1994 US Open Semi Final: Tony Ellin Vs Efren Reyes

1994 US Open 9 Ball Championships from the Holiday Inn in Chesapeake, Virginia. Barry Behrman presents the US Open 9 Ball championships - this semi-final match features "The Hurricane" Tony Ellin taking on "The Magician" Efren Reyes.
This match was held on September 25, 1994. Commentary by Dave Woloshin and Allen Hopkins.

[@80sragamuffin]

Who else is watching 1994 game in 2024 ?

[@BlackjackDSapolis]

I played in this tournament - lol -

[@fajrihidayatullah-sv9cl]

me😂

[@NicolAeBartolomeo]

Me... and I'm loving the advertising... mighty 90's

[@Ithaneba]

🙋‍♂️here.

[@imeenomaguchi8672]

me 😊

[@leviwilson3544]

Just learned of this living legend, and cannot get enough of watching his nearly perfect, and flawless command of the que ball. Every pool enthusiast on this planet should take the time to watch what this man does. Wishing him many more years of doing what he loves!!!

[@mikeserrano734]

Hahaha so your binge watching the Legend now.

[@mef12727]

Wow man you've been missing out. Where have you been? Unless you don't really watch pool events

[@timsmith1687]

Yea dude efren is the goat, if you watch earl Strickland give the speech at efrens farewell tour, you will see him eat his pride, take the mic back, and admit that efren Reyes is the best to ever play the game.

[@estrelitachua691]

@@timsmith1687 jg

[@Daputaka]

Bro, just a slight history of how great he is, pls check this link. Be sure you expand the page (there's a dropdown arrow on the upper right hand corner). groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/soc.culture.filipino/35ZoYvq-NSU

[@timbuktu5505]

Don't ever apologize for converting a VHS video from 1994. You are a "magician", well Reyes is anyway. The old commercials are a trip. Great Job.

[@ariel-lf4mk]

O

[@loriw2661]

It never ceases to amaze me that announcers know these players, have their names right in front of them, yet still say “Ef-rum” rather than “Ef-ren”. I wish ESPN still televised pool (or any network). So happy for the internet!! David: Not to worry about quality. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to see this match! Thank you!!!!

[@amysainz9737]

don't apologize for posting this treasure in whatever condition

[@u.s.s.steamroller990]

The Magician is a living legend. We salute ya!

[@BigDraco__1]

The old school ads were kinda satisfying lol

[@raylarkin5004]

I smile when announces are always seeing what they think he should have done. For years they said he was lucky until his skill vould not be explained away as luck now longer. Especially his zig zag shots! There is only one reason he is called the magician, because he is so incredibly table wise. 👍

[@Amtcboy]

I recall watching one game where the commentators were rather old compared to the ones I see on ESPN etc. And they were kinda “belittling” (can’t think of a kinder word) Efren, and trying to predict what he was going to do. And about 90% of their predictions was wrong.

[@FethiBensaid-fu1oq]

I tihink .earl Strickland vs efren reys

[@seaglin]

Thank you David for sharing this. I met Tony Ellin in Myrtle Beach one night at the Brass Rack. No action for him there that night but I remember what a down-to-earth guy he was as he spoke with myself and my friends. Watched him shoot a shot and just had my eyes on the cue shaft and observed how straight and smooth that stroke looked. Learned something that night. God rest his beautiful soul. Love Effren too.

[@ericmowrey6872]

A huge thank you sir for going through the (technical) trouble of posting this early '90's 9-ball gold. It was awesome to watch.

[@bensmith1383]

Despite the video/audio problems, it was a pleasure watching this. Thanks for taking the time to convert and upload.

[@jhette007]

Thank you so much for saving this legendary match....

[@shigakokugo]

David, thanks for up loading. I'm very happy to watch Efren's play the year he won US open.

[@RudyB-ti8ye]

Efren easily the best pool player of all time. Plus he is a nice humble guy. Great combination.

[@TheAudiophile81]

And he always says he was lucky lol...

[@itz_loraine2615]

@@TheAudiophile81 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

[@sidedude1641]

The humble part doesn't matter.. Even if he's cocky as long as he's good..

[@bennymalicdem2476]

@@TheAudiophile81 %

[@josephlee4337]

Mr. Sapolis, can't thank you enough for uploading this rare gem for people to enjoy. And the little screen jumps mean absolutely nothing to get to see Efren plays in his early years.

[@marciemars2303]

Thanks for the effort to convert this from a vhs, it's much appreciated. More power!

[@InterWebGuy99]

Thanks for putting this out there. It was a pleasure to watch Tony Ellin battle against Efren just as his career was starting to wind down. A truly great competitor who poured his life into the game.

[@ricj6817]

I've been a long time follower of Efren. Wayback in my college days in Manila, I used to go to "Lucky 13" and would spent the whole day there just to see Efren play billiards; that's the place where he lives, owned by his uncle. But then you seldom see him play 'coz nobody wanted to play him for money anymore. That was his early 20's and believe me Efren plays awesome and flawless billiards at that time. Time and again he can really do those magical shots were he become famous for. Really scary!

[@gerryllano9067]

I used to play there also..lucky 13 was the home of the hustlers..im a true blooded manileño and iknew all the hustlers way back then.

[@garry1220able]

i used to visit and play at Lucky 13 and after a couple beers and billiard games, the other floor is the bar-showtime every night where pretty ladies show their 'wares'...

[@stills4557]

All us wannabe player knew him when we were still in high school in the early seventies as a hustler. We also played at lucky 13 hoping to catch a glimpse of his game when we were in college, unfortunately; we can only stay for a few hours at a time in the afternoon and almost always saw Chiquito instead.

[@ricj6817]

@@stills4557 so true...Chiquito plays karambola always, but was no match to Efren. Efren is the best in karambola too. Just like what you said, very seldom to see Efren playing there. The reason why I learn to visit Lucky 13, because of so many names being mentioned as hustlers in billiards, I become so interested to find out who really is the best. I learned that most of these hustlers hang out in City Billiards and Lucky 13 so I find those billiard halls and try my luck. My first visit to Lucky 13, by the way this place was notorious for gambling so minors are not allowed. I'm still a minor but I'm wearing moustache so I was able to get in there. As you mentioned, small time showbiz personalities hangs out here in Lucky 13 to gamble like Chiquito, Pepot, Larry Silva and more. Boy Abe was one of the first player that impressed me and found out later that he is the son of the owner they called Abe. His brother Lando is also good, and later on as I keep visiting the place I become familiar with some of the players and Efren finally enters the scene. The first time I saw Efren played, there was this big crowd around the table. I didn't know that was Efren because I'm just getting to know them one at a time. If Boy Abe and Lando were among my early prospects who can play well, when I saw Efren I was so impress that I easily remove Boy and Lando in my list. I found out that Efren was the cousin of Boy and Lando, and he lives in the billiard hall Lucky 13, so he sleep under those billiard tables I was told. I recall one Sunday when me and a friend escape in ROTC class, and were both addicted and still learning to play billiards. I made the decision that we go to Lucky 13, that's Sunday, and when we got still early past 9 am. The billiard hall was almost empty, I mean nobody was playing and no people hanging around like when I go there on weekdays. The reason I found out, during weekend those gamblers who hang out in Lucky 13, go to the racetrack instead. As I've said nobody was playing except this one skinny guy who was playing rotation by himself and he was good. We have no idea that it was Efren. And that was one piece of evidence as to why he was able to play so good. He mastered the billiard table at the same time the karambola tables too, that he can use every inch of the table the way he want to, depending on what he wants to do. Efren is the genius of billiards. He introduced the very useful safety when he played in international tournament. Most of the Americans doesn't know how to play safety wisely that's why when they saw Efren doing it, and some other impossible and unbelievable shots, they called The Magician. Efren is the master of safety and he can easily use that to win so many tournaments. With his talent in karambola, when incorporate with what ever game like 9 balls, 8 balls give him a tremendous advantage than any other player. Given any position in a billiard table, Efren can see every possibility to run out before making a decision which one he prefers and execute. I believe there's no other player who can see or envision the table and with so many options than Efren. Efren can see possible imaginary shots that no one can, and can execute the shot while others can not. That's the genius of Efren that's why so many believe that he is the GOAT of this sport. Let me just clarify what I've said, all of this scenarios, happened or he can do easily during his prime. His knowledge and unbelievable talent in billiards is beyond compare and unmatched.

[@joegoe2990]

Thank you for putting this up. It was a great video.

[@HarrisBrenEscabarte]

They should really make a biographical movie of Efren.

[@mikeserrano734]

Hollywood make that movie! 🎥 🎱

[@lifeisgood2542]

no. let philippines make that movie

[@mikeserrano734]

@@lifeisgood2542 Hollywood nga para worldwide!

[@ralphjayguevarra5635]

@@lifeisgood2542 oo worldwide dude

[@mikeserrano734]

Also an Efren Reyes Cup!

[@floydreasons6779]

Tony was a good friend of mine since his early days at Pegs Pocket. My longtime buddy John Ditoro was a huge influence on Tony's game. Couldn't believe it when I saw him on the road in S Carolina. Rip Tony miss you buddy..

[@kingstaff4]

Thanks for sharing this. It was awesome seeing Efren in top form. Never seen Tony play, but he was a damn good player as well. Sad for his untimely passing.

[@YouTubist666]

39:03 No need to apologize. We are so appreciative of you making the time and effort for posting these early games by Efren. I missed his hey days and love watching him as a young gun.

[@koothrapauleekoopaul2606]

sir thanks for the video, this is part of pool history, once more thanks.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Allen Hopkins provides the best technical commentary. There is nobody better.

[@UDEMF]

its pure gold, you dont have to apologize for the quality, thanks for sharing

[@flyingbob4u]

Had a chance to play Efren a couple of times in his hometown Angeles City Philippines back in '83 while I was stationed at Clark Air Force base. We played rotation and he ran the entire table using 'isa camay" (one handed) left me with my mouth agape.

[@joelbrenzuela]

nice Mr. bobby..

[@ever123108]

wow! nice story to hear sir. i'm from the philippines and just saw him in person just once. when you played efren he probably was not yet popular because during that time,our number 1 player was jose "amang" parica.

[@royplayer]

Where you ever in Montana Bobby?

[@travo2112]

pablo lacruz yes he was there twice. once in '97 and once in '99. Im his associate, and he wanted me to answer your question for him.

[@user-il7ni9xt2j]

,警察

[@ricj6817]

to continue..Efren needs to pocket 14 of the 15 balls most of the time to win, while his opponent needs only at least 2 balls and yet Efren still wins easy. Unbelievable, everytime I watch him play he can shoot something which i thought was never possible. He is the magician to me a long time ago. I miss how he progresses in the 1980's and early 1990's. If only someone can put together all his games, that's truly amazing. I believe he is the greatest player who ever play this game

[@ugaugauga488]

I agree.

[@rapidPACMAN]

Agree 100%. Efren is the GOAT of pool. Period.

[@MahlonEdwards]

🐐

[@alfredocallangan5995]

I agree with your thoughts

[@flyingbob4u]

I was lucky to be there from 1979 to 1992 before the volcano took everything down then everything stopped. Rolando Vicente and myself Drew up the brackets for a big event downtown I couldn't make it but I understood it was a great event with some of the top players you in angeles including Efren. I still have the sign of list of all the players I wish I could duplicate that so some of you can relate to it.

[@KhriekuoSeletsu]

Love the ads too, bring back old memories.

[@ricoshaye5745]

Thank you for the effort in this video really appreciate it man. Great vintage efren!

[@josuefuentes4626]

Thanks for your efforts to share this kind of material. Incredible Reyes. Humble and human. Awesome match. Greatest of all the time!

[@r.k.justus3616]

What a great match such a loss, thanks for putting this up :)

[@ricardoalaurin3205]

Thank you for uploading this was very important part of history

[@ronsk8rr]

RIP Tony! Thanks for the great video.

[@jaezryl]

Mad breaking technique by Tony Ellin. Incredible

[@ariefap]

Thanks for uploading this, this video is a treasure for our next generation.

[@BlackjackDSapolis]

If this is an accu-stats video, then I will remove it. However, I recorded this from ESPN in 1994 and I have had it ever since.

[@straightshooter141]

There's only one hurricane... and he's RIP. Great upload, Jack! Reyes is too good.

[@bonhzeppelin9882]

Mr. Ellen was and like a shooting star he shone brightly and brilliantly. Thanks Tony!

[@nathaliejhalevlog4619]

The greatest of all time:) thank you Efren "the magician" bata Reyes,the living legend...

[@BlackjackDSapolis]

Efren first came to the States (that I know of) -going by the name "Cesar Morales" This was around 1984-85. By then, everybody had heard of "Efren Reyes" but nobody had ever seen what he looked like. This was pre-intertnet. Efren was 30 yrs old. He was beyond scary because by then everybody was familiar with Jose Parica. Efren did not play anything like Jose, and yes, it was scary top think that there was a depth of talent in the Phils. that played just as well (or better) than Jose and Efren.

[@davids11131113]

I have the tournament ladder where Efren played as Cesar Morales.

[@mikeserrano734]

@@davids11131113 can you show it to us. Maybe a link of a video of that tournament at Reds. It will be shown in a future Efren Reyes Hollywood movie

[@SupraSkyline369]

Yes he used his friends name so no one recognized him. He was so good most people refused to play him. During the tournament he was playing he had others betting for him to win at crazy odds. They definitely made some money. At one point during the match they met fans and he was signing autographs with his real name. Thats when they found out who he was. Too bad I wasn't around and or too young to watch these videos when they were happening. But watching them now is awesome.

[@BlackjackDSapolis]

@@SupraSkyline369 - it was a lot of fun before the internet and cell phones - the 80's and 90's were a great time to be a pool player!

[@eunicechannel837]

Even in the Philippines around late 70's, the name " bata " was already very popular among billiard fans though they never seen his face. No one cares about the name of Parica anymore. They first took a glimpse of Efren's face during his match against Varner on delayed telecast and everybody was surprised to see this middle aged man. Everyone thought of a really young ( bata ) pool wizard.😁

[@paulogaviola5522]

This video is appreciated, thanks for uploading!

[@mathewladroga4695]

Absolutely love this walk back in time, I was 9 in 94

[@robroy5573]

For those who don't know of what happened to Mr. Tony Ellin, he was killed instantly in his car after colliding with a running train sometime in 2000. He was only 34. RIP Tony! 🙏

[@donnybro6536]

It sad when he have that potential to be 1 of the greatest player

[@mustthopasultanovachalih2843]

rob roy now are old man strikland & efren reyes

[@MahlonEdwards]

1-Tony "The Hurricane" Ellin, 34, of Ladson, S.C. was killed Wednesday when a train hit his 1999 Cadillac as he crossed an intersection. 2-He was killed on June 14, 2000, at age 34, when his 1999 Cadillac collided with a locomotive less than a block from his home. [2] Ellin was alone in his car when the accident occurred. Lt. Mike Benton, a Charleston County sheriff, said Ellin was "apparently trying to beat the train to the crossing." I'm sure he would have progressed immensely in the world of pool had this not occurred. 34 and out. One helluva breaker and player.

[@zaldydomingo3932]

Thanks for the effort of converting this!

[@MrRex1949]

These pool players are super great players. Wow! I love these great pool games. Thanks for letting us see this. 🎱🇺🇸

[@MyStolenAimbot]

Commercials in the 90s were so much better

[@h2o4170]

Don't app for VHS quality we are lucky to have this footage at all

[@larrywhitesell4139]

Thanks for this video! Fantastic nine ball match!

[@PabG77]

Thanks for sharing this, I really Enjoyed it.

[@leboydelatorre7292]

Thank you Mr. Sapolis for these great video.dont mind it,grateful to have the chance to still watch the match.God bless Tony’ soul.

[@chrispafrieddreams9118]

👍👍I watched Tony Ellen play in, and win last tournament, at the Sands Regency in Reno, he came from the losers side and won ( one long day) What a smooth stroke and powerful break he had! A true gentleman of the game.. blessings...❤️🙏

[@eyalvered5762]

Seriously you said that you're sorry for making conversion 20 years old?! We should all say thank you so much for doing it for free 👌🏽🙏🏽❤️

[@glyperez790]

awesome😍thank you for sharing David, you got new subs here 🇵🇭

[@simplelangperorock]

Allen Hopkins is one of the best analysts ever

[@ricj6817]

To continue... By that time (Efren early 20's) Jose Parica was the number 1 rated player in the Philippines. Efren ranks only 2nd to Parica, but in my point of view I knew that Efren has so much potential to become the better player of the 2 and that's what it turned out to be. If Efren ever made it to the U.S. in his early 20's I believe he is very capable of winning and could have won more tournaments.

[@michaelbailey1578]

Again, no need to apologize. Thank you for your efforts.

[@joetookmyvideo]

No need to apologize,,thank you very much for sharing

[@Gemminttrading]

Thanks for sharing...

[@ginostrings]

I love the quality. I remember my childhood.

[@chuckbrodbar2753]

No apology here Great to see it RIP Tony he passed way too young

[@hgoldy]

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it!

[@CAL7A]

Blackjack, these videos you have been uploading are just awesome gems from a very fantastic tera of pool.

[@walterwhite1483]

so nice to see the young "bata" playing. its a joy watching masters like those two getting on it.

[@ml.2770]

He was 40 here. Imagine how good he was at 25.

[@jodihouts6032]

I love these older ones, when they were still "cool" bad boys!

[@Gemminttrading]

I would love to see Efren playing one pocket from the same era. Talk about Magician... I think he's one of the best overall players of all time.

[@JohnDisque]

I didn't get to see him play 1-pocket because I can't watch it. It bores the hell out of me, but I did get to see him play a lot of 9 ball and 8 ball. What I miss about the 80s and 90s is: guys like Tony, McCready, Kennedy, etc., who weren't fundamentally sound, could catch a gear and take-off a big tournament. There was less predictability, and it was less robotic, which made it more exciting. Pool was fun, and it's guys like Tony who made it fun.

[@bonhzeppelin9882]

@@JohnDisque For total offense 1 pocket look for Ronnie Allen footage. He was always on the attack, not bunting balls up table, or stalling, and ducking.

[@mattwoodardtn]

Efren plays 1 pocket better than anyone that has ever played. It is an eye opener.

[@TOPpicksWorldwide0428]

He's the greatest all around pool player of all time and he's also the greatest one pocket of all time. Efren is the man !

[@roncruz8191]

@@JohnDisque He is more scary in one pocket play .

[@rockermonster7726]

Very good game. I enjoyed it very much!

[@sanctuary8396]

This match was held on my 7th birthday! :D

[@kevinplacid9351]

effren makes pool playing look effortless a pleasure to watch

[@kapsleand6832]

thanks david, happy watching your video. blessing.

[@StonedViper]

Thanks for the upload, you can never get enough Efren!!

[@teodoroabecia4937]

Not at all!! I'm kinda old school, and you're great to have this copy at your VHS. Still works!!! I've lot of copies of VHS too than DVD. I prefer VHS it's easy to repair than DVD. Thanks bro!!!

[@horaspc3003]

Yes mr

[@robertoreglos1908]

Thank you for the video...

[@anton1949]

David Sapolis...thanks for the work on this video.

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

The scary part about efren is he claims his top form was between approx 1976-1980 (there's a rare interview with him on youtube). Can you imagine what he was like then??

[@SlickRick4EVER]

1973 - 1976

[@donaldhenak4585]

yes

[@landorsavage]

This video explains it all. There are so much to tell about his feats during the 70s up to the 80s, the thing is he had won a lot of tournaments in the US alone not recorded, televised or broadcasted on TV. In his interview he said he was disqualified several times for being too good in the sport. Hence for 5 years he played carom (3 cushion) because nobody wants to play him in other disciplines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5uVhn57adaAY80

[@simonanigan5141]

Efren Reyes and Jose Parica was dominant in pool Billiard American pool players scared of them. But maybe they would play Efren but on Joses prime even best players in America are just handicap on him even Buddy Hall never play with Jose because he's scared and knows already he wouldn't win in money game!

[@louiefernandez3835]

Excellent performance::: Efren Reyes!!!

[@chankom]

wow... Thank you for describing how crazy it was because my mind doesn't have the capability to imagine how scary Efren back in the day was.

[@pattychung]

This commentator is really good. He anticipates and draws out every shot movement, shot selection, and cue direction. Seems like he probably plays himself.

[@rickvassell8349]

That's Allen Hopkins, world Champion.

[@philipcallado5693]

It’s funny how before each 9-ball match Efren is in the commentators mention how his opponent is a better breaker. What’s implied is that’s the only advantage they have against him because Efren’s brilliant at everything else.

[@roseyunun2653]

no

[@abdotbi]

Thanks for recording the advertisements too, very nostalgic.

[@rosebidabon5921]

Ramon ren Ramon reville6m

[@bill8by5]

R.I.P. Tony Ellin. You are missed Brother.

[@yoyoyojeremy]

Reyes is the greatest. And I appreciate that. But Ellin was a hell of guy and a great player. Gone too soon.

[@mr.walston732]

Thanks for the footage

[@winterguitarkingyea]

Thank you very much, really nice seeing Tony Efren when young playing great ... God Bless Tony Ellin for his contribution to the game we all love a great champion he is was ... He is probably playing with the living legends in the spirit realms waiting for all of us, smile ...

[@Bkaizen1]

Watching 2019

[@experimente99]

he is the Legend..

[@neilltorres1967]

Kuliner Maniak indeed period.

[@augistopantoja6416]

Muibueno record@r estos gr@ndes jugadores para aprender algo de ellos. Gracia

[@scambodia147]

Thanks,was enjoyable despite the inferior quality.

[@drmitofit2673]

Amazing skill displayed by both players and super insightful commentary by Allen Hopkins!

[@harryjananto9766]

Efren Reyes..Composure..accuracies..Control of his Cue n ball out of this world.👍👍👍

[@HellzYea]

always a pleasure watching my favorite player in his younger days

[@sanjosevincit6599]

thanks a lot. no need to apologize. it’s still a good stuff to watch. thanks for sharing.

[@bah1153]

Would loved to have seen St.louis Louie Roberts play Efrin what a match up that would have been!

[@squatch570]

One of the forgotten greats Roberts was, because outside of real pool players, most people have never heard of him. Too bad Louie passed away so soon. That would've been a great match up... and Louie was as nice a guy as Efren too.

[@bradyderise8884]

Thanks for the Video

[@cebubilliards]

The GOAT! It will take another hundred years for another Efren Bata Reyes.

[@kulasbukid]

The next who thing who gonna break Efren record it's gonna be A.I.

[@voltairecaminero]

GOAT of Billiard

[@kokopeds8588]

Thanks for the upload

[@joelbrenzuela]

thanks for this post.

[@angelorosello7290]

I love this event. This vintage and a treasure.

[@bonhzeppelin9882]

Such a GREAT Player and a FINE Human Being Tony was! I'm sure he would have won more than his fair share of Major Titles. I truly miss THE HURRICANE!

[@contretoramos5615]

Tabu Timba

[@neomedesmoraes9992]

Magnífico

[@samuelbaskin8141]

No apologies necessary....I stand in applause and salute to the great players that day and for you contributing this gem to the pool fans around the world

[@robmds8256]

Great commentator very knowledgeble and soft spoken..