Efren Reyes Plays the Ghost at Hard Times Bellflower

Efren plays the 10 ball ghost at hard times. This is a race to 21 or 25 if I recall... there were a few instances in which my camera TURNED OFF by it's own volition. I'm VERY VERY Sorry. This was a poorly executed plan due in part to having less than 24 hours to prepare and not having the correct video equipment.

[@djamo1969]

I thought Efren’s play in Pt 5 of the Color of Money match on KZbin was the best play I’ve ever seen, but this might top it. Beating the ghost in 10 ball? At age 58? Really!? Amazing!

[@theshyguitarist]

I used to play with Efren back in the late 80’s at Hard Times along with other greats. I was very lucky and learned a lot from the best guys including Strickland, Bustamonte, local favs like Hawaiian Jimmy etc. I still own the Joss and custom cue I had made for me by Al Romero. A lot of great memories from that place. Here, Efren is actually shooting with my Joss Cue. You can hear the sound a typical Joss with an ivory ferrule makes after harder shots. Absolute music to the ear.

[@1stPlaceDirector]

I played Reyes when he was just a kid back in the Philippines and I was a US Navy sailor stationed there. Efren used to hustle all the GIs. He used to stand on a milk crate to shoot when he was a small boy and beat the GIs out of their paychecks. Those were the days. He was destined for greatness.

[@bobbylight111]

seen a thousand pool videos on yt but this might be my favorite. all efren all the time. master at work, knows every shot, best runout artist of all time at his most natural and effortless. no commentary so i can hear myself think. some real treasure you’ve got here

[@jbcasesoriginal]

Efren is the best living all-around player. Strickland is the greatest living tournament 9 ball player. Thank you for filming this. We have very little to no video of the greats like Lassiter, Mosconi, etc... but thanks to people like you we will never be short of knowing just how great Efren was when he is gone.

[@jdonaldson8875]

To anyone wondering, playing "the Ghost" is essentially playing yourself. The Ghost is an imaginary, perfect player. Just like in a real match, once Efren misses a shot, it is his opponents turn. But, because the Ghost is a perfect player, it is assumed he runs and wins the rack every time it becomes his turn. So each mistake is counted as a loss to the Ghost, which is why they start re-racking every time Efren misses a shot. So, it is Efren's objective to run 25 racks with fewer than 25 mistakes.

[@anthonimartin3509]

thank you

[@conorbrady1981]

Mosconi was shooting into pockets that were the size of toilet bowls. Even I wouldn't miss into them. Reyes is a master.

[@raymondphillips7107]

Mosconi also played on 10 foot tables!

[@mikefixac]

Watching Efren play brings tears to my eyes. What a joy to watch this man.

[@scottbranson7872]

This is probably the most definitive tutorial pool video on KZbin. It is so cerebral, he is beyond a legend, he's savant quality obsessive determination and stamina. I see no reason why You couldn't program Artificial Intelligence to this video alone.

[@murahk123]

You use big words that you don’t even know the definition of. It’s not cerebral. It’s the exact opposite. He plays off of feel and instinct. Yes he’s intelligent. But not in the cerebral way. Intellect and cerebral are not interchangeable words.

[@scottbranson7872]

@@murahk123 You think i have time in my life to respond to stuff like this?

[@trumanhw]

Anyone who wants to shoot at running 400 on 5.5" pockets within a specified time period has my attention. Combinations are tough on ANY sized pocket -- and straight pool requires tons of them. I would imagine Masconi would have had a hard time running 11 or however many racks strickland did, and shane ran 17. This era is of rotation, and humans can't play much better than the top alive today can. I'll be posting Alcano vs. Ghost as well as Orcollo and Papulayan THIS MONTH. Already done.

[@spade2w]

trumanhw Thank you for taking the time to upload these videos.

[@chrisparcley4501]

Love the ghost matches. This one's a special treat. Thank you so much!!!

[@joeygonzo]

All 9-ball titles. That makes him the best 9-baller, arguably. Mosconi won how many world titles ? Greenleaf and De Oro ? Efren won the largest prize money in 9-ball and 8-ball ( pool in general as it was $500,000 ). Efren won the overall champ at the Derby Classic at least once. Earl has a great case as being the best 9-baller but pool is more than just 9-ball.

[@BahoUtot]

The legend! Thanks for sharing this.

[@trumanhw]

Thank you! I think this week I'm going to encode the rotation ghost (which is beautiful)... Keep on the look out.

[@arpeemac]

i hope the kids on the other table realize that on the table beside them is the greatest man who ever held a pool cue.

[@jonathanarent5565]

There were so many racks that left me wondering how he actually got out... Legend

[@trumanhw]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Jonathan. I have another set of him playing 10 ball. I might post it... my attitude towards videos like this are that ... unless it's a conflict of interest and I can afford it -- that it's the property of all people to see something like this.

[@davids11131113]

Grunt616- No one at Hard Times is unaware of who Efren is, he's a regular at this great pool hall and many top pros frequently practice here and play the tournaments here.

[@arpeemac]

cool. i'm sure we'd both agree that any reyes-strickland match we've seen has always been a thriller.

[@conorbrady1981]

Check the records Badleaders, Mosconi was shooting into 5 1/4" corner pockets. That's some margin for error. We currently shoot into 4" corner pockets. Mosconi also got Brunswick (his then employer) to narrow the pockets after setting his 528 ball World Record run, ensuring it would not be beaten. The word FRAUD springs to mind.

[@coryCuc]

I never knew that. Interesting. And a similar word also comes to mind lol.

[@arpeemac]

3:46, see how he avoids the cueball hitting the 9.

[@supermingsu]

He hit it with top spin but a little stronger. In that way, the cue ball travels along the tangent line a little longer before the top spin kicks in. He slightly raised the cue to make the cue ball hop a bit. That helps too, because the top spin has no effect when the cue ball is in the air.

[@adean716]

Yes, I see how he does not avoid the 9 with cue ball, because the cue ball hits the 9.

[@trumanhw]

You are SO right. The whole rack was good, but that shot was particularly impressive. Here's the rack as I see it ... what do you think ? 1 = jacked up. 2-10 = combo + has to control the 2 to get an angle -- not be on top of it or let the two drift up table. 2 - required max draw to avert 90 degree angle on the 3... at minimum speed to not pass it. (perf speed) 3 - needs a bunch of follow from close range, and he hit it with PERFECT speed control. 4 = easy 5 - drag draw to drift the cue ball forward the width of the cue ball to get an angle (the 6 doesn't pass). 6 - amateurs use the wrong speed, over cut it, or don't get across. So difficult Efren gets sloppy position. 7 = precision of every pool talent. Savant; only the best and most talented see, let alone execute that, on demand. 8 - has to play off the rail and use "effective follow" which makes the pocket the width of the ball. 9 - gets lucky, bumped it but gets a (half pocket) shot. (The angle & distance are tough enough to make Efren jump up.) 10 - cut shot & CB + OB are close; making aiming hard & increases throw. Slightly harder hit with draw minimizes throw, collectively avoids the billiard line's default track to the side pocket.

[@mescellaneous]

yes it touches the 9, but i can clearly see what he meant by 'avoid' the 9. it's not enough to follow, efren jumped the ball on purpose for air time. air time guarantees the cue does not cling on to the felt with whatever friction or spin is on the ball. if he did not jump, the cue ball will follow into the 9, based on that angle on the 7. i imagine it is possible to get similar position and 'avoid' the 9 without jumping, but maybe with 3x the force and follow he applied on that shot, but that wont leave the same position because of the magnitude.

[@trumanhw]

I also have video of him playing the 15 ball ghost! :)

[@joeygonzo]

The 8-ball for $500K was with IPT. It's here somewhere. It was taped. I don't know if the Tokyo Open win by Efren is here on KZbin. I've never seen it.

[@trumanhw]

Yeah, I'd agree with you. I think the thing people misunderstand is that, they aren't necessarily seeking to make a long bring; they're just unwilling to make a short bridge unless it's the last resort.

[@trumanhw]

Tokyo is online... I'm going to work on getting the other sessions I have of him playing the rotation ghost shortly.

[@ompongsabong865]

Earl is the greatest 9-ball player of all time and Bata is the greatest pool player of all time.

[@joeygonzo]

The table here in the vid has 4" corners at best. 4 1/2 is common nowadays ( Diamond table ) at 141* angle. A lot tougher than 5" old Gold Crown tables. The best ever I think were Harold Worst and De Oro.

[@xtinno]

genius at work

[@OKCprince]

I think I shot better as a teenager. Looking back, I think I just left myself really tough shots over and over again and could make fair amount. Now, I focus more on playing position to make my next shot much easier and I also look for possible safeties so I can try to get ball in hall (the easiest of all shots). I seldom try those really hard shots any more. Efren seems to be able to put the cueball wherever he wants and therefore has very few hard shots; a sign of a truly great player!

[@kabayanhustler]

I'm subscribing.. lovin these vids

[@joeygonzo]

Long bridge b/c they aim low at the cueball and the fist gets in the way of the vision I think. Efren, Busta, Sambajon and Alcano have long bridges imo. Parica, Orcullo , Andam and Luat, normal length.

[@davids11131113]

'Your pockets'? You do realize you can order a table with whatever size pockets you want, right? My 8 foot Diamond table has 4 1/4 inch pockets.

[@elterrible06]

starting at 42:52... that rack had a sick spread, and he got out!

[@Kawmanuwa]

So you have to put the ten ball back if you hit it in early? Is that how it is always or is that to make it harder for Efren?

[@nycjin2977]

Is he playing with a 'standard' 58' cue? I remember he always played with a 60', then 59' when he played with a judd, not sure about recently...maybe that's why the shorter bridge?

[@vicluevano1222]

Do you have any vids of Efren or busti playing the ghost on the old table 1? The Brunswick devil table?

[@joeygonzo]

Earl has not won a major one-pocket or straight-pool tournament I believe. Efren has. Also won 8-ball and banks. A good case for Efren.

[@SgtBoudreau]

Efren always plays for $100K US...I've seen him loose it too, at Shooters in Riverside back in 2003/2004

[@kimzafra]

Earl won 5 US open but remember Efren is not an American. In the Philippines Efren is the all time champion

[@joeygonzo]

Shane Van Boening has won 5 of the last 9 years.

[@cyrfull]

where did efren win that?and where can i watch it?was it ipt?best regards...

[@arpeemac]

3:47 notice how he forced the cueball to not fully hit the 9, so he could prepare for the 8.

[@yutuberboy]

in the late 80's to early 2000 he puts 15 balls randomly at the table with balls clusters and runs out 4 to 5 racks at a time. ask the old timers in the USA who frequent the places he plays prcctice there

[@1stPlaceDirector]

This was fun watching Efren practice 10 ball in this video. He's one talented player although his style is not that smooth, probably because he had to maintain a style conducive to hustling pool, as to not give away his skill so quickly by executing too smooth a stroke.

[@AavonorcaA]

Who's that other guy racking - Efren's backer? At times, he gives suggestions on position - which is strange considering it's Efren! - so I'm guessing it is.

[@091192oakleyd]

The like bar looks like a pool cue

[@trumanhw]

100,000. Does that make the challenge better?

[@rhyschen]

Efren out 11 games ahead f*#%ing incredible. Ending result 21-10

[@bonosfriend]

Anyone know what the bet was here??

[@fishblade2]

just wondering here how tight are the pockets on the table?

[@richig761]

How many matches did he win and lose? I didn't have time to watch it all.

[@KillerDiaguR]

kinda hoped efren would be playing a spooky floating cue in this one. good anyway i spose

[@grunt616]

All the normal people that go there have no idea who this Man is...If I was there, i would crowd around that table

[@kimzafra]

Efren is definitely old, you can watch many money games Efren plays today and he is receiving handicap from uknown hustlers here in the Philippines. During his young career , he could have given them 3 ball-handicap in nineballs

[@Kawmanuwa]

Efren is really in stroke. Playing fast and loose.

[@istambay22]

what is the race excatly on this match can somebody tell me because is a joke for efren if is a even race

[@bensonpode3982]

ghost means if you miss pocketing you lose the game...because the ghost always run's out...meaning to say one mistake you lose the game...after every break you have ball in hand,just make sure you clean it up or the ghost will have that rack...i'm not sure about those 10 ball combination if it is counted as a score...co'z as the uploader says the video is not complete...anyway, still good to see the magician hustling...

[@lovetownsend]

i was thinking the same thing :p kinda disrespectful :/ efren is a legend

[@murahk123]

I hope the ghost has a comfortable chair

[@kimzafra]

Efren is a little bit sloppy. Age is catching up to him. Remember he is a senior (60 years old). If he were doing this during his younger age he could have scored 21-3

[@davids11131113]

Efren had arthritis problems in his wrists and elbows in particular even when he was younger.

[@DesignsbyDonBrown]

What was the final score?

[@seiyul]

After watching Efren run racks of rotation, this looks like child's play.

[@keithcaldwell5618]

Efren says he played his best when he was a teenager! Can you imagine?

[@chrisparcley4501]

So good that no one in the country would play him. Literally. He had to get a job washing cars because his action dried up. Somebody got the cash and the bright idea to come to America and the games never been the same.

[@yutuberboy]

the oldies agree his best years was 1975 to 1979 its his cue ball control at its best during that time coz he played 3 cushion for 4 yrs or so before this time to earn money as no one in the country wanted to play him in pocket billiards anymore be it rotation or whatever so he quit playing pocket billiards and taught himself 3 cushion and within a year he started beating the best ones too .

[@slimwolf22]

Wow! I thought it was funny when that guy said "NO COACHING" @ the 00:08:00 mark. Hilarious... That guy in the white shirt was obviously the translator for Efren Reyes.

[@dand100]

Shyan, he is playing the "ghost". The ghost always runs out. So.. if you miss you have lost the game and you move on to the next one. You're goal is to win more games than the ghost. Oh and you get ball in hand after the break.

[@vincehardener]

Efren is a great billiard player.......

[@zamimo2]

The ghost game is a game which if you don't finish up the balls in a single run you are automatically losing that game, so efren has to take a ball in hand in finish the whole rack without missing or doing any fouls, you can say that a ghost is a super professional player that if u miss against him, he will finish the game no matter what.

[@Eddievjr5]

I want efren to win the 9 ball us open one more time in Va!

[@sanjursan]

Even a Master can make a simple mistake. Check 1:01:40 where he obviously uses too much left spin and misses an otherwise easy shot on the 4 ball. Loss of concentration perhaps.

[@Kawmanuwa]

So the game is you break then put the white ball where you want after. Then if you don't run out the Ghost wins the game.?

Reyes couldn't hold Mosconi's jockstrap.

[@hectormanzanilla4127]

efren "bata" reyes yan e!!! respect

[@mellowmauldin]

anybody who says efren isn't the greatest of all time is on crack. yea his sight has fallen off in recent years but his level of knowledge and consistent execution is unmatched. sure certain players may out-due him in a single area i.e frost may play better one pocket now, shane breaks better, larry nevel has a purer stroke etc but all around, efren is the best pound for pound. just watch him play 15ball rotation its gross. earl is gonna get bent over in their PPV

[@joshuahaynes7413]

mellowmauldin efren is great but the newer guys like svb and shaw are better players. in a race to 50 winner breaks svb would win easily

[@arpeemac]

LOL. SVB would not stand a chance if Efren was at his prime. he wont even win against a young Earl Strickland.

[@joshuahaynes7413]

arpeemac depends on the game . but svb at his best is much stronger than efren

[@arpeemac]

you probably did not get my point. a 30-year-old SVB will NOT stand a chance against a 30-year-old Efren Reyes, in ANY game, on ANY table.

[@ajb87]

what is 10 ball ghost?? is a diff game??

[@albertosamaniego2476]

half those guys at that place probably have no clue who he is

[@jessejamesaims]

there are many pros who would have beaten that record if they had the right incentive. put up a a hundred thousand dollars and it will be broken in 6 months

[@AntonioTrew]

He Got Lucky

[@cyrfull]

strickland is the greatest in my view,but your entitled to your opinion.

[@fernandogutierrez8268]

🎥📹📽️🎥📹📽️🎥📹📽️🎥📹📽️🆘🆘🆘🆘🆘🆘🆘🆘🆘 ISO VINTAGE RARE POOL VIDEO 9 BALL RAFAEL MARTINEZ VS EFREN REYES 90'S BICYCLE CLUB TOURNAMENT

[@cyrfull]

earl won 5 or 6 worlds and 5 us open ,for wich he holds the record.....

[@shyan042688]

i don't get this...what exactly is he doing? and who's he playing against?

[@madmaxxmayhem]

those lil kids would have sharked me

[@emoniac]

the ghost is Steve Mizerak i guess?

Not a very long bridge. Fillipino long bridges is a myth.

[@thomasdecker3443]

Every time earl won world 9 ball he was in. Just saying

[@conorbrady1981]

Ah come off it. That doesn't even make sense. Reyes would smash that record if he was shooting in to pockets that size. He is a Maestro

I will say I think Reyes is a great player too, but if he's as great as Mosconi was, he would have broken his ball run record with the smaller pockets.

[@bobbyjojo]

Rack one should have been a loss because if the 10 ball is to be spotted it should have been spotted before he shot the 2,not after.The cue ball travels through the spot on the table where the 10 ball would have been.

[@trumanhw]

I'm not sure if we had established the re-spot rule at that point...and when I did articulate it's requisite, I also added that he may wait one turn to spot it (so it doesn't tie a ball up he's shooting or block the CB.

[@michaelwade4758]

+Robert Longo The way they played it seems only fair. If it was another ball other than the ten, you would make the combo and continue shooting with any interference. By waiting one turn it does not penalize him for make the correct shot.

[@wesleykohlman7275]

they were saying. it can be spotted immediately or after the next shot. in the video. it's hard to hear.

[@bobbyjojo]

+Wesley Kohlman The fact is, If Efren takes ball in hand he should have been able to break out the cluster of balls around the Two ball while making the One ball. All balls pocketed in succession and the Ten ball last. The ten ball made early should have been a foul. I however didn't make the rules and didn't host the event.

[@jrsc1929]

Anywhere iv ever played has had pretty much the same rules for playing the ghost. If you make your money ball during a combo and it blocks your direct path to your next object ball you spot it the next shot. Commons sense in my opinion. Why get punished for playing a good shot?

[@hujklnm23]

Efren and earl play the same haha

[@RenoBobby]

You know nothing. haha

[@SolitaryWinged]

I don't understand, why is efren just playing by himself? What does it mean by ghost?

[@tmrwic]

100,000? Seriously?

[@StonedViper]

Did the ghost pay up?...lol

[@arpeemac]

22:20 - tapyok! =P

[@ONEpocketKID21]

were they actually betting on this? with all that shit going on around him?

[@thomasdecker3443]

Efen great but not earl great

[@chucklesdarwinwaswrongevol9264]

Efren is better than earl

You're full of shit. Mosconi was more of a master than Reyes will ever be.

[@jefferyskelly3769]

This clown playing Efren is not the ghost, Gerry Watson from Canada is the ghost