We knew that Matchroom Sports thought about a team competition between Asian pool players and European pool players similar to the Mosconi Cup. Why it took so long would be the question. Better late than never? You bet. 

The inaugural edition of the Reyes Cup will be held on October 15-18 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The said event is named after Efren Reyes, who is widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time. Reyes, nicknamed “The Magician”, won the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Nine-Ball Championship in 1999.

Efren Bata Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented the Philippines at the World Cup of Pool, winning in 2006 and 2009. And the Filipino cue artist was inducted to the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame in 2003. It was only fitting, then, that a nine-ball pool team tournament between the best pool players from Asia and the best of Europe should be held in his honor.

It wasn’t surprising that Reyes was chosen as the team captain of the talented Asian squad. The European team isn't outdone, though. Karl Boyes was named the team captain of the fancied European team.

The native of Bradford, England won the 2014 World Cup of Pool (with Darren Appleton). He’s also the 2010 WPA World Eight-Ball Champion. The world rankings determined the top three Asian players and then the top three European players.

And then both Reyes and Boyes would decide the last two players as wildcards. Rankings weren't a factor, as both team captains leaned on performances these last few years and what they could bring to the pool table. 

Let’s enumerate the participating players and their world rankings (in parenthesis):

Team Asia

• Ko Pin Yi (4)
• Johann Chua (10)
• Aloysius Yapp (11)
• Carlo Biado (27)
• Duong Quoc Hoang (39)

Captain: Efren Reyes

Team Europe

• Eklent Kaçi (2)
• Jayson Shaw (3)
• Mickey Krause (5)
• Joshua Filler (6)
• Francisco Sánchez Ruíz (14)

Captain: Karl Boyes

The European squad, led by two-time WPA World 10-Ball champion Eklent Kaçi, looks stronger on paper. But we’re leaning on the Asian squad. What could Reyes do?

Why Team Asia Will Beat Team Europe?

The Asian pool players excel in team events. The Philippines won the World Cup of Pool four times, the most by any nation. China won the prestigious team event three times. Many pool fans wonder why Matchroom won’t stage the World Cup of Pool this year.

We’ll get to that part a little later. Some fans would point out that the European pool players didn’t do bad at all. As a matter of fact, Germany and Finland won the World Cup of Pool in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

The 2011 edition was held in The Block of SM City North EDSA while the 2012 edition was held in Robinsons Place Manila. There are two Filipinos in the Asian squad, which would drive the home fans wild. 

Johann Chua and Carlo Biado can rise to the occasion. Johann Chua and James Aranas won the 2023 World Cup of Pool in Lugo, Spain, the third Filipino pair to achieve such a feat. And Chua, a native of Bacolod, lost to Kaçi in the semifinals of the World Pool Championships.

Biado’s impressive resume includes the 2017 WPA World Nine-Ball Championships, the 2021 US Open Pool Championships, and the 2024 World Ten-Ball Championships. Both Chua and Biado are the top Pinoys cue artists these past years, and playing in front of pool-crazy local fans would put more pressure on both of them.

If they manage to rise to the occasion in the biggest pool events, then conquering nerves in home soil won’t be a problem. But there’s something else. 

Efren Reyes wouldn’t be called “The Magician” for nothing. Reyes admitted that his skills declined before the pandemic began, but his ability in the pool table was renowned. We think it didn’t diminish at all, so we can’t wait for what he would see and tell to his team during the three-day event. 

The European squad is a formidable team. As a matter of fact, the Mosconi Cup, an international team competition between the best American pool players and the best of Europe, turned into a one-team affair in 2007. The Americans have won on four occasions since then.

However, rankings flew out of the window in team events. Tennis fans would attest to it whenever they watch the Davis Cup matches. Reyes chose Duong Quoc Hoang because of the Vietnamese pool player’s tactical play and precision. And it could put the Asian squad in a favorable position during those make-or-break moments. 

 “To be picked for Team Asia in the first ever Reyes Cup is a dream come true. Representing my country on the global stage is an honor I take great pride in, and I’m excited for the challenge of facing Europe’s best,” Hoang said. 

Boyes can argue about the same thing with Sánchez Ruíz, the 2023 World Pool champ, but it remains to be seen. It should bring pool fans to a rather painful topic.  

Whatever Happened to the World Cup of Pool?

We don’t think the lack of funds, or sponsors, would be the reason behind the non-inclusion of the prestigious team event in Matchroom’s calendar. For one, there are too many pool tournaments all over the world.

It should give pool players more chances of ranking up more points and move up the world rankings. But Matchroom could be thinking of how to make pool fans, and potential sponsors, more invested into the sport. No one raised an eyebrow on Saudi Arabia hosting the World Pool Championships this year, but the British sporting event promotions company could be looking for other ways to widen the market.

Is the Olympics in the cards? Let’s wait and see. 

Do You Think Team Asia Will Win the Reyes Cup?

If you’re betting on Team Europe, let us know why. 

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