I'm in my 70s. Up until my 60s, hardly a day went by that I didn't play at least 5 or 10 games of pool. I first met the kid Earl Strickland in the late seventies, before he had turned pro. He was a smart-ass know-it-all kid back then, just like he is TODAY; just saw him 3 weeks ago, arguing about how the balls we're racked!!! I can't think of one person that actually liked the kid. Soon as something didn't go his way, just like today, he'd start complaining and blaming everything and everybody; NEVER his fault. He was a punk, know-it-all kid, and he's a punk know-it-all adult.
The problem is he is playing on tables with such gigantic pockets it's almost impossible to miss. I would honestly fancy my chances against Earl on a 8 ball table from the UK. You think he is complaining now. Imagine how he would be playing on a UK spec 8 ball table, he would be pissing his pants. The difference in difficulty is night and day, that's not to take away any of his accomplishments as he is playing against his fellow players on a level playing field, using the same tables, rules, etc.
@@boltingskyline5234 Everyone bringing up the smaller pocket size always conveniently leaves out the smaller ball size. It's not like he's just rattling balls in, they're hitting center pocket so it's not like it's even that much of a factor. That said, I can confidently say you'd have no chance against Earl. I haven't met him personally but I have met a few pros and they are MUCH better than what you see on televised matches. When they can just play their game and aren't dealing with the added pressure of the cameras, spectators, big money prize, etc it's unlikely that you even get to take a shot.
I play both English and American pool, they are worlds apart as games. You CANNOT be aggressive down the long rail into the corner pockets on an English table because if you are out by 1-2mm it’s just gonna rattle out again and even if the shot is hit perfect, if going fast, it’s getting spat out. I’d take an English middle pocket over an American one all day though, far less angle in available in American middle pockets due to the sharp cut and regarding pocket sizes, I regularly play on a Brunswick gold crown IV with 4.25’’ pockets and a Dynamic III with 4’’ pockets and when you’re shooting over 8’4’’ rather than 6’, it is every bit as hard to make a ball. Also, controlling a 57mm cue ball rather than a 48mm cue ball is far harder; I can draw full length no issue with a small cue ball but it’s harder getting the heavy ball to do your bidding. Having said that, the American 9ft table has way more room and so the balls are much less congested despite being bigger as you’ve almost double the room to play on. Apples and oranges really 🤷🏻♂️
I've always thought Earl was a great player. I've played pool with him and I'm not a fan of him personally. But Effren is and will always be my fave! ❤
At 13:50 they talk about how Efren was warming up before the game. I remember seeing him back in the late 80s or early 90s down in NC. He walked into a room and got a game with a guy. Efren walked over to the rack on the wall and picked up a house cue. Didn't even look at the tip, see if it was straight or anything. Then Efren ran like 8 racks on the guy. I remember looking down at my $3000 Southwest cue and thinking maybe the cue really doesn't matter all that much.
.the cue matters a lot but you have to have the skill first.....you did it backwards....you wanted to impress everyone with your expensive cue....but you didnt have the skill or talent to impress them with your play.....no one was surprised that efren beat the guy with a house cue but you........because...they ALL KNEW not to buy a 3k cue till they were good enough that people recognized them from their play...not their play cue
@@jadezee6316 I didn't care about impressing anyone. I buy what I like to play with. As for my ability... well... if you're ever in the area, let me know and you can judge for yourself.
Earl is a great player but also the world's greatest whiner, sniveler, complainer and poor sport. I like Efren's attitude infinitely more agreeable and so I root for him always in these head to head matches. Thanks for the uploads.
Earl Strickland is a detriment to any sport in any form. His behavior should not be tolerated by pool officinados or coddled... I personally would have reacted in a most ungentlemanly manner if I were Efren.
best pool rivalry ever. earl has to have the most talent out of any player ive ever seen and absolutely unstoppable when hes in dead stroke, along with an insanely powerful stroke that can send the rock places most players could never get to. efrens level of thinking, creativity, kicking, and defense will probably never be seen by another player though...
And sadly Efren is like that local rapper who never made it big, as he only could win 1 US Open whereas Earl and SVB are the only humans Alice with 5 each. Earl will always be more legendary in the books
Two GOAT players of pool. I like Earl but when it comes to calm composure I’d go with Efren. Earl really not letting up because he knows what Efren can really do. These two are really good friends, they are buddies. They have mutual respect for each other. Thank you for posting.
Given a choice of who I'd recommend my pool buddies to watch to improve their game, it's Efren above all other players living or dead. I rarely see Efren rush a difficult shot.
Efren is my favorite player. Great mellow guy that I think is the most creative and skilled player off all time. I think Strickland is the best pure shooter in pool I've ever seen. He is rarely ever offline or out of position on his shots. But he definitely whines more than most due to his competitive nature.
@@bnhamilton Well of course Efren is competitive too. But he doesn't let poor shots frustrate him very much. I use to be very similar to Strickland as far as getting easily frustrated. Which I guess is why I admire Efren to be able to control that much better than most.
You guys have to realize Efren never played on a 10 ft and jet lag he had to play on the same day he got there.. this is earl pool home and table. That's advantage for earl.. efren doesnt need to prove anything anymore he already beat earl so many times... the one and only magician, wizard, maestro, and The God Of Pool gods.. that's all I have to say......
@Zionism toHell Please, are you trolling? He may not be your favorite player but Reyes is class all the way. And definitely no kind of bum at or away from the table.
And are you saying he let somebody win that is the oldest excuse in the book he didn't let nobody win poor shooting in the beginning was what caused it
To answer the question at 34:00: So many Filipinos shoot with a long bridge because that is how Effren plays. They seek to emulate those they look up to, and who better than the local legend?
A lot of people have adopted that bridge these days. I quit playing competitively back in maybe 2002 or so. Back then nobody had a bridge like that. I've been watching some tournaments recently and it seems like everyone has that same bridge. Makes me wonder if I should have tried it. Not sure anything would have helped my game though.
Here in Brazil, there is a snooker player named Baianinho de Mauá, he plays at tables whose pockets are almost the right amount to pass the ball. If he plays this 8 ball game from the USA, at these tables with huge pockets, no one will beat him. If you are interested, look on youtube for Baianinho de Mauá, he is fantastic, and you will like it.
@@E_se_fizer_assim Snooker also uses smaller balls, so the difference is not as much as it seems. By your logic, one should make nearly every half court basketball shot because the hoop is two feet in diameter. Smaller balls = smaller pockets. Larger balls = larger pockets. The ratios are nearly the same in both games, though.
He was lucky because earl was going to run out. Pretty funny how frustrated he got but then redeemed himself with a physics defying cut on the 4 and then that 8 ball kick. Seems earl was the lucky one.
Two totally different personalities here. Earl very entertaining and can be so whiney and agitated over every little thing but when it comes down to business, what an amazing shooter he is! Efren on the other hand, always calm cool and collective and he even will crack a smile after a bad shot. Both are legends in their time! Great comeback by Reyes early in the match after being down 5-0. Game 23 was pretty much a train wreck for both players but the topsy turvy game had a truly dramatic ending. Great match, great video and announcing!
@@bobbydillon9618 Hey, thanks for the correction. For some reason, I've always known it as collective but you are correct. The proper term is collected.
Efren does stuff that honestly makes you question why you even play pool, shot at 27:55... I mean really that whole rack was purely ridiculous. The dude emits excellence.
Thught it exudes excellence, but for sure eyfren is totally winner mentality, he must be worship is his home country, bc he is the goat and then banks balls for fun ❤
There are hundreds of players unbeatable when on fire. The back room games in Arkansas and Texas were legendary. Getting home with the cash was a challenge challenge.
When I was young I worked for an old man and his wife who owned a pool hall in Tampa close to the Greyhound track. All day I would shoot rotation either on a snooker or regulation table. At night Id hit the bars and hustle games on the 5x10 bar tables. Had an old Sneaky Pete pool stick and to say I cleaned up would be an understatement. Long time ago but good old days just the same.
I cant believe Strickland said "Youre one lucky guy efren"...Really?Efren that woops you all the time is lucky??? You missed your shot, it has nothing to do with Efren...He is better..
Efren record isn't better so no, that's what he meant he got lucky. And efren says himself that he isn't skilled rather he is lucky. Earl has 5 US Opens, efren only has 1 which really isn't legitimate. Lol. Very different leagues
@@godjhaka7376 Bull shit! Different league my ass. Where I played pool money game is the only thing that tells the truth. Efren Reyes is the best ever in money games. He whips earl’s ass in every big time money game they played. Earl Strickland chokes when the big money is on the table.
Earl is an arrogant ass. He has an overinflated sense of himself and when losing he blames everything not on his own game. Effren is far better than almost every player to ever shoot billiards.
*NEED TO BRING BACK, "BACK POCKET 9 BALL" WHERE EACH PLAYER GETS A CORNER POCKET FOR THE 9 BALL. AND ANY SAFE, CAN BE GIVEN BACK TO A PLAYER. JUST 2 OF THE MAIN RULES*
Earl practices on these table a lot almost everyday... he is the house pro at Steinway so he had a huge advantage over efren in this match... more then people think... he had homefield advantage and knows these tables very well
No. He practices on THAT table. Why the dope moved to NYC is beyond me. Must be big on the private gambling scene, or he makes money for teaching pool. No reason to go to a place where the rent and cost of living is so high.
They're my favorite players ever in pool and I'm proudly say that I'm so lucky to watch these tow great players taking on each other I can't even support one of them so I'm just enjoying watching this game but Efren is just different from everyone he has that ability to make everything looks easy I mean when watch that guy playing pool you go oh pool is so easy but when try to play it yourself you're going to end up suprized how he does that? What makes like Earl is that he's so confident in himself he doesn't take a long time to make his shot even if he doesn't have a good one he'll do that by extreme confidence
Yes am aim the match of the game sg counting since come out this game from mag num toto SG counting3-13 3-14 am aim Rosalinda amoyo Pagapong by the power of love a whole new world I found a big 7big family 3gineration2021 century
I know this is an old video, but it still cracks me up how people are sitting around the table clanking their silverware and chowing down on food while they play.
No matter what, I still go for a cool, level-headed person that makes him worthy to be called the genuine authentic sportsman like our very own EFREN “bata” REYES & the great boxer MANNY “pacman” PACQUIAO.❤👏❤
African using the second ball break effectively. Great match countless really good shots. Wish I had that kind of cue ball control and could make it look that easy to do it. Wouldn't it be fun to play that good? Love it! Thank you so much for the video!
What I hate most is they have no idea what they are talking about. Strickland is an ass hole but you have to give credits where credit is due. They literally were questioning his decisions from the start. Efren for life tho
For those saying they're calling ball numbers wrong, it was mentioned a couple of times that the monitors the announcers are using aren't showing the balls clearly. They mentioned several times that they weren't sure which ball they were talking about. They guessed, but couldn't be sure. They also can't see playing lines that I am seeing pretty simply in the video. Clearly, they need better equipment. I played BCA tournaments for a few years back in the early 90's. One thing was common: the more gifted the player, the more they complained if things weren't going exactly their way. Strickland is one of the more prolific, but by no means the only one. Mike Sigel did it ALL the time. They're so used to playing virtuoso-level billiards for so many years, that it's inconceivable that THEY are doing something wrong. In this match, Strickland is so annoyed with his dry breaks, that he forgets to watch what Efren is doing to drop the short corner. Any other player would be curious, and try to see how the opponent is breaking. Strickland not only doesn't do that, he keeps checking the racker to see if he's favoring Reyes. His frustration is all the more amusing because it's HIS table. He's the resident pro at Steinway Billiards. This is HIS room, on HIS table. And he can't drop balls on the break. And he can't stand it. Efren Reyes has always been a quiet guy. He plays easy and even pace, he says very little, gives nothing away. Strickland being so flamboyant with his antics makes life easy for his opponents, because they know they're getting to him. Reyes' success primarily comes from his easy, patient demeanor. Always keeps his cool, and that makes him competitive in every match.
No excuse, being involved with shooting pool and being around pool a person man or woman shouldn't need a picture perfect 4k or 4 Geforce GTX titans graphic cards quality picture to call out the correct ball. Come on people, its not that hard.
@@tommygun7299 Yeah I'm watching it on my phone and have no problems but the man commentating doesn't sound too knowledgeable and they are watching on a laptop so whatever. Talking about the 7 ball when Earl is shooting stripes can't be chalked up to vision its a solid ... now if you mix up the 10 and 12 or something on a small screen it really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter regardless if you don't know what they mean when they're talking you probably don't know pool. "You" being a generalization
53:30 - Earls complaining about Efren knocking in the corner ball, saying they should have made a rule that you can't shoot from outside the box (I guess), then he says he'll do the same as Efren and make the corner ball, but misses. He was ball watching because Efren was using a second ball break shot, but Earl shot at the head ball. That's why he didn't make the wing ball.
In the past, I was amazed at Earl but after watching this match, he complained a lot about the arrangement of the ball and it was seen that the arrangement for Efran was even tilted so that when he "break', he did not enter a ball
They're definitely salt-and-pepper, the two of them! but if your going to serve a world-class meal, you need them both on the table! Top shelf theater!
The 5x10, Earl's favourite table in his home club in N.Y.C. He lived right across the street in a hotel and I believe they put the 5x10 in at his request. Talk about home advantage!
@Joshua Haynes I'm not taking this too seriously. But in the commentary they literally say over and over that Efren has never played on this size table. I don't know. It's allowed because Efren agreed to it is the answer. But I'd never play for money on someone's local table.
You really think Efron has never shot on a 5 x 10?¿? Yeah I'm sure he may have never played on this particular table wow thats the excuse huh??? Maybe he had a hang nail on his bridge hand too???
When someone is as talented as Earl S., their behavior sometimes fluctuates outside the norm, why? Who can say what is going inside somebody's head? His game is unreal as is Effie's. A pleasure to watch these men play the greatest game ever created.
Agree. When you are as talented as Earl, you live in fear of not playing to your potential. Besides, all games need characters. If everyone had Efren's demeanor, the game would be less exciting. These two were a great contrast in styles.
@@RayRay-zt7bj Good point! And yes he does. Could definitely be a strategy. It's so easy for me to watch and critique. A whole different story to actually be doing it-especially when you're one of the top players in the world.
@@davidrafferty2491 … When the cue ball is aimed to strike the first ball under the apex ball. Watch the video on Efren’s 3rd and 4th break. Pay close attention to where the cue ball hits the rack.
@@RickbearcatWhy does that matter? A legal break requires that either a ball be pocketed or at least 4 balls hit a rail. Any object ball can be aimed at.
It matters in and of the fact that NO ONE noticed. ESPECIALLY the people in the booth. They are PAID to notice what is going on. And my comment has NOTHING to do with the legalities of the break, so, I don't have a clue as to why you would even bring that up.@@procrastinator6902
Here we tried to play 15 balls with the same rules as 9 balls. This is the best pool game for this size of table. Imagine its to difficult to run out. There always a tactical battle midway in every game.
SNOOKER, POOL ( During 2009 on, I got my E P Colors I n both) hut now at the age of 85 , I only play a social game now and then, but I often watch Ronnie O Sullivan's games on my Cellphone ! Love Mike Muller Senior!!!!!
Playing on a 5x10 table sure makes 8-ball a much easier game, as evidenced by the number of run outs. With almost 25% more playing surface there's a lot more "air" on the table to open things up.
@@lookingforahookup The reason Tony is "annoying" is because she has NO CLUE what she's watching, it makes is commentary difficult because she can't counter.
I own this very same 10 foot Brunswick pool table now after Steinway replaced it. I have it set up next to a diamond 9 foot in my basement. Earl had the corner pockets cut to diamond specs, with the side pockets a 1/4" tighter than diamond side pockets. I didn't change a thing and kept the table with the same pocket sizes that Earl had it set at. It is extremely difficult compared to a diamond, and for these two legends to play at this level on it, proves they are super human.
@@plan9fromsyracuse lol i was going to but then i realized this video is over 30 years old and they probably got new tables since then.. i went to Steinway and only saw 9 footers
5x10 is the only hope for the future of pool. The fact that they have a sold out room for this match proves snooker could do well in the states if more people knew about it.
Here in Brazil, there is a snooker player named Baianinho de Mauá, he plays at tables whose pockets are almost the right amount to pass the ball. If he plays this 8 ball game from the USA, at these tables with huge pockets, no one will beat him. If you are interested, look on youtube for Baianinho de Mauá, he is fantastic, and you will like it.
1:54:55 what a nice attempt to break out the 9 ball by Earl - so close! 2:3:15 what a nice shot with position, and then what a bad shot! Followed by "You're one lucky guy Efren" - I agree with the commentator about saying shit like that. Crazy shots after that by Earl in that rack, wtf! 2:5:50 Earl calls it and kicks it in!
Watching in August 2021. Two powerhouse players on a 5x10. Both great players with two different styles. Strickland with braces/wraps/supports and Reyes with a cue he probably pulled from the house rack. Anyway. Not a slight toward the ultra focused Strickland. Two giants. Both great players.
that break shot Efrin is making looks like hes hitting the 2nd row ball , but it looks like a fine slice of the 1st ball when you play it at 1 quarter speed in the settings.
I was taught this break, no way an expert but I was to aim at both balls, so he could be hitting both at the same time. I think he's only doing it because he knows he can sink a ball, otherwise it usually doesn't spread the balls very well.
Had no idea how lucky I was to live in Philly and to see Bata And Django And Karen Corr for multiple years on a weekly basis... Tacony Billiards RIP and Fuscos Billiards which moved.. Man, I was truly a Lucky Individual...
I'm in my 70s. Up until my 60s, hardly a day went by that I didn't play at least 5 or 10 games of pool.
I first met the kid Earl Strickland in the late seventies, before he had turned pro. He was a smart-ass know-it-all kid back then, just like he is TODAY; just saw him 3 weeks ago, arguing about how the balls we're racked!!! I can't think of one person that actually liked the kid. Soon as something didn't go his way, just like today, he'd start complaining and blaming everything and everybody; NEVER his fault.
He was a punk, know-it-all kid, and he's a punk know-it-all adult.
Same with me, same opinion!
The problem is he is playing on tables with such gigantic pockets it's almost impossible to miss. I would honestly fancy my chances against Earl on a 8 ball table from the UK. You think he is complaining now. Imagine how he would be playing on a UK spec 8 ball table, he would be pissing his pants. The difference in difficulty is night and day, that's not to take away any of his accomplishments as he is playing against his fellow players on a level playing field, using the same tables, rules, etc.
He does look like a bit of a whinger 😂
@@boltingskyline5234 Everyone bringing up the smaller pocket size always conveniently leaves out the smaller ball size. It's not like he's just rattling balls in, they're hitting center pocket so it's not like it's even that much of a factor.
That said, I can confidently say you'd have no chance against Earl. I haven't met him personally but I have met a few pros and they are MUCH better than what you see on televised matches. When they can just play their game and aren't dealing with the added pressure of the cameras, spectators, big money prize, etc it's unlikely that you even get to take a shot.
I play both English and American pool, they are worlds apart as games. You CANNOT be aggressive down the long rail into the corner pockets on an English table because if you are out by 1-2mm it’s just gonna rattle out again and even if the shot is hit perfect, if going fast, it’s getting spat out. I’d take an English middle pocket over an American one all day though, far less angle in available in American middle pockets due to the sharp cut and regarding pocket sizes, I regularly play on a Brunswick gold crown IV with 4.25’’ pockets and a Dynamic III with 4’’ pockets and when you’re shooting over 8’4’’ rather than 6’, it is every bit as hard to make a ball. Also, controlling a 57mm cue ball rather than a 48mm cue ball is far harder; I can draw full length no issue with a small cue ball but it’s harder getting the heavy ball to do your bidding. Having said that, the American 9ft table has way more room and so the balls are much less congested despite being bigger as you’ve almost double the room to play on. Apples and oranges really 🤷🏻♂️
"He must've pocketed a ball..."
You commentators are *right on top* of the action.
I've always thought Earl was a great player. I've played pool with him and I'm not a fan of him personally.
But Effren is and will always be my fave! ❤
At 13:50 they talk about how Efren was warming up before the game. I remember seeing him back in the late 80s or early 90s down in NC. He walked into a room and got a game with a guy. Efren walked over to the rack on the wall and picked up a house cue. Didn't even look at the tip, see if it was straight or anything. Then Efren ran like 8 racks on the guy.
I remember looking down at my $3000 Southwest cue and thinking maybe the cue really doesn't matter all that much.
.the cue matters a lot but you have to have the skill first.....you did it backwards....you wanted to impress everyone with your expensive cue....but you didnt have the skill or talent to impress them with your play.....no one was surprised that efren beat the guy with a house cue but you........because...they ALL KNEW not to buy a 3k cue till they were good enough that people recognized them from their play...not their play cue
@@jadezee6316 I didn't care about impressing anyone. I buy what I like to play with. As for my ability... well... if you're ever in the area, let me know and you can judge for yourself.
$3000!? What's it made out of?
@@overnightdelivery Wood. That's actually not very expensive for a custom cue. I remember when Cognosenti cues first came out they were 5 figures.
Tip and shaft matter the rest is just looks and weight!!!
Efren is playing with such a smile, he just enjoys in every single minut of pool.
@Tomislav Russiankrsic don't everyone smile and enjoy every "minute" of pool? Maybe those who suck don't and in it for the wrong reasons.
Earl is a great player but also the world's greatest whiner, sniveler, complainer and poor sport. I like Efren's attitude infinitely more agreeable and so I root for him always in these head to head matches. Thanks for the uploads.
smitty2868 You are exactly right!
I am a white man so i root for Earl Strickland.
Indeed, he's a typical 'murican.
Earl Strickland is a detriment to any sport in any form. His behavior should not be tolerated by pool officinados or coddled... I personally would have reacted in a most ungentlemanly manner if I were Efren.
@@malakarr10 you are wrong in every way possible. People come in all shapes and types.
best pool rivalry ever. earl has to have the most talent out of any player ive ever seen and absolutely unstoppable when hes in dead stroke, along with an insanely powerful stroke that can send the rock places most players could never get to. efrens level of thinking, creativity, kicking, and defense will probably never be seen by another player though...
And sadly Efren is like that local rapper who never made it big, as he only could win 1 US Open whereas Earl and SVB are the only humans Alice with 5 each. Earl will always be more legendary in the books
In the books, yes, but in the real world, Reyes is the king. Great as they are, Earl and SVB are subservient to his highness.
This might be old ,but to me,still very informative. A 69 year old can still learn from these masters of the sport of pool. Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Efren is 69 years old himself right now, so you're learning from someone the same age as you.
Do you know what year this was? Amazing.
@ScottVanwilzonn No I do not,but some things never seem to get old. It's just satisfying to me to watch him at his sport.
We are blessed to have this in HD. Wow.
Dbs
Earl and Efren might very well be the 2 most entertaining pool players ever ... I love watching this.
..
Agreed, I'm here folding laundry to stay awake so I can watch
@@edwells4769 lMFAO holy shit
respect to the legends....pure art
00⁰0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000⁰00000000000000000p000⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰0⁰⁰00⁰0⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰0⁰0000⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰⁰ppp⁰0
Shut up
Two GOAT players of pool. I like Earl but when it comes to calm composure I’d go with Efren. Earl really not letting up because he knows what Efren can really do. These two are really good friends, they are buddies. They have mutual respect for each other. Thank you for posting.
Earl doesn't have proper respect for anybody, player or fan, or he would behave in a professional manner 1:14:56
Given a choice of who I'd recommend my pool buddies to watch to improve their game, it's Efren above all other players living or dead. I rarely see Efren rush a difficult shot.
Hdhdnhhdhhhhd
Yddhuhhphhnhihhlndhhnhhdhhhhhhhqdhhd9yhhhnhhhhhhnnd
Hhdnhhdhhhhnhdhhdhhdhnedhhhddnhehhuhhhhnhhnddhdlhnhhlddh;hdhhhhnhhhhhdhdndhdhd
hDhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhdhdhhhhhdhdhhhhhhhdhhhdhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnhhhhhhdhhhhhhdhhdhhhdhhhhhdhhhdhhhhhhhdhhhhdhdhdhhhhhhhdhhhhhhnhhhhhhhhhhhnhhhhhhhdhhhhdhhhhhhhhddhdhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhdhddddhnhnwlyeh
Nyunhdhhhdehdnddindnhyhhdnh9hhhnhddn9hyyy
Efren is the GOAT.. he represented with greatness and humbleness.
Pleasant and informed commentary...enjoying you both...thanks.
Thank you for making this match available!!! We appreciate the 3k you kicked in! 😂
Anyone can see efren is a very humble man. He expects to win every game. He knows how good he is without bragging A true gentle man ! ! ! !
as we all can learn from this example.
@@curtisbrechter5620 i
Ñ s8 da Fox X i I xiewwelKO IP wii oh gracias PO IP 0
i~n~i
Thank you for commentating this event. The female announcer is absolutely adorable and humble
You forgot "horrible"
@@PMurray2694 She's Tony Robles' wife, Gayle
@@alexandersupertramp7353 how is she horrible?
Earl is the real successor to Mike Siegel: Earl "THE MOUTH" Strickland for blaming the ref on his missed breaks LOL
I hope not Siegel gets on my nerves
Ui9ok
Efren is my favorite player. Great mellow guy that I think is the most creative and skilled player off all time. I think Strickland is the best pure shooter in pool I've ever seen. He is rarely ever offline or out of position on his shots. But he definitely whines more than most due to his competitive nature.
Earl is a legendary, but incredibly annoying player. When I miss shots, I blame myself, that's why I can't stand his whining.
So, the reason Efren isn't a pain in the neck is that he doesn't have a competitive nature???
@@bnhamilton Well of course Efren is competitive too. But he doesn't let poor shots frustrate him very much. I use to be very similar to Strickland as far as getting easily frustrated. Which I guess is why I admire Efren to be able to control that much better than most.
@@overnightdelivery Yes, Efren is the coolest player I ever saw. Maybe it's easier to keep your calm when you know you're going to win.
@@overnightdelivery you live and learn. All anger and stress does is put YOU in the grave quicker , no one else.
humility is what makes Efren Reyes the best ....
I disagree. I'd say it's his pool skills
Óo
You guys have to realize
Efren never played on a 10 ft and jet lag he had to play on the same day he got there.. this is earl pool home and table.
That's advantage for earl.. efren doesnt need to prove anything anymore he already beat earl so many times... the one and only magician, wizard, maestro, and The God Of Pool gods.. that's all I have to say......
@Zionism toHell Please, are you trolling? He may not be your favorite player but Reyes is class all the way. And definitely no kind of bum at or away from the table.
He's just fortunate he didn't live simultaneously with Willie mosconi
And are you saying he let somebody win that is the oldest excuse in the book he didn't let nobody win poor shooting in the beginning was what caused it
Daniel Webster o
2:05:46 Get ready for one of Strickland's most spectacular shots. OMG!!!!.....well, they really are legends
hell of a shot
Spectacular !
I love this atmosphere and pool carbets.
To answer the question at 34:00: So many Filipinos shoot with a long bridge because that is how Effren plays. They seek to emulate those they look up to, and who better than the local legend?
A lot of people have adopted that bridge these days. I quit playing competitively back in maybe 2002 or so. Back then nobody had a bridge like that. I've been watching some tournaments recently and it seems like everyone has that same bridge. Makes me wonder if I should have tried it. Not sure anything would have helped my game though.
I always thought it was they played 15ball rotation on 10ft tables.
love to watch these two guy's play, they are the best.
Xnxx
Here in Brazil, there is a snooker player named Baianinho de Mauá, he plays at tables whose pockets are almost the right amount to pass the ball. If he plays this 8 ball game from the USA, at these tables with huge pockets, no one will beat him.
If you are interested, look on youtube for Baianinho de Mauá, he is fantastic, and you will like it.
@@E_se_fizer_assim viagem sua... o jogo eh completamente diferente. baianinho nao chega AOS PÉS do EFREN REYES
@@E_se_fizer_assim Snooker also uses smaller balls, so the difference is not as much as it seems. By your logic, one should make nearly every half court basketball shot because the hoop is two feet in diameter. Smaller balls = smaller pockets. Larger balls = larger pockets. The ratios are nearly the same in both games, though.
@@E_se_fizer_assim I googled it and the first thing I saw was a video of some guy named Mairton beating him 20-12
i like. thank you for posting this. history in the making, two legends.
Am I going to spend three hours watching this ? Yes I am
Yes,if the players in good shape then it's a good match anyway
I put it on 2x speed and on mute.
2:03:50 Lucky guy? Earl, you missed the shot! Don't blame anyone else!
Well obviously he was saying he is lucky that he missed the shot.
LOL when he hit the cue on the table.. I would kick earl easily on the pool table HAHA LOL.
He was lucky because earl was going to run out. Pretty funny how frustrated he got but then redeemed himself with a physics defying cut on the 4 and then that 8 ball kick. Seems earl was the lucky one.
He's acting like a wall puncher little baby bitch this whole match
It’s part of the game , within all sports getting in people’s head . You ain’t a nice person
Two totally different personalities here. Earl very entertaining and can be so whiney and agitated over every little thing but when it comes down to business, what an amazing shooter he is! Efren on the other hand, always calm cool and collective and he even will crack a smile after a bad shot. Both are legends in their time! Great comeback by Reyes early in the match after being down 5-0. Game 23 was pretty much a train wreck for both players but the topsy turvy game had a truly dramatic ending. Great match, great video and announcing!
I think its because ,both are very different in personalities, what makes these rivalry very unique. And of course both are legends
It’s “collected” not “collective”
@@bobbydillon9618 Hey, thanks for the correction. For some reason, I've always known it as collective but you are correct. The proper term is collected.
The announcing was amazing in the match… lots of insight. ❤
@@RayRay-zt7bj I was gonna correct that but I figured in 3 years someone might have by then. 😂
Efren does stuff that honestly makes you question why you even play pool, shot at 27:55... I mean really that whole rack was purely ridiculous. The dude emits excellence.
He is not a dude. You're a dude. This is a man...a handsome muscular man.
Thught it exudes excellence, but for sure eyfren is totally winner mentality, he must be worship is his home country, bc he is the goat and then banks balls for fun ❤
There are hundreds of players unbeatable when on fire. The back room games in Arkansas and Texas were legendary. Getting home with the cash was a challenge challenge.
Efren is a living legend
He is the GOAT and this comes from the oldgoat.;-)
Agreed, but in all fairness...so is Earl Strickland. He may be a lunatic at times, but he's still one the best ever.
@@oldgoat50 vs invincible young willie mosconi
@@RyanJacksonElectrical 112¹44¹
Earl he's the tops
Efren play is smooth as silk
@dan riley LOL
I love to watch Efren play
Zionism toHell u are a utter fool!
When I was young I worked for an old man and his wife who owned a pool hall in Tampa close to the Greyhound track. All day I would shoot rotation either on a snooker or regulation table. At night Id hit the bars and hustle games on the 5x10 bar tables. Had an old Sneaky Pete pool stick and to say I cleaned up would be an understatement. Long time ago but good old days just the same.
I cant believe Strickland said "Youre one lucky guy efren"...Really?Efren that woops you all the time is lucky??? You missed your shot, it has nothing to do with Efren...He is better..
For as great of a player as he is, Earl Strickland is the biggest fuckin asshole ever in pool.
Efren record isn't better so no, that's what he meant he got lucky. And efren says himself that he isn't skilled rather he is lucky. Earl has 5 US Opens, efren only has 1 which really isn't legitimate. Lol. Very different leagues
He always blames everyone else but himself. He can be a sore loser
@@godjhaka7376 Bull shit! Different league my ass. Where I played pool money game is the only thing that tells the truth. Efren Reyes is the best ever in money games. He whips earl’s ass in every big time money game they played. Earl Strickland chokes when the big money is on the table.
Earl is an arrogant ass. He has an overinflated sense of himself and when losing he blames everything not on his own game. Effren is far better than almost every player to ever shoot billiards.
Efron Reyes , the greatest this generation will see, for quite some time☺💯❤💫😎🙏🤑
Would love to get a pool lesson from either of them, wow they are both hella amazing look at them own their shots!
Thank you for sharing your talents, lovely commentary much respect. ❤
2 of the best players to ever grace the sport. Haven't seen this match before today. Earl seems to be in top form after the first few racks.
@@howardrush ?
🎉🎉🎉
Alq
I like that carpet.
Shooting balls, consistency and accuracy - advantage Strickland. Everything else - advantage Reyes.
*NEED TO BRING BACK, "BACK POCKET 9 BALL" WHERE EACH PLAYER GETS A CORNER POCKET FOR THE 9 BALL. AND ANY SAFE, CAN BE GIVEN BACK TO A PLAYER. JUST 2 OF THE MAIN RULES*
Earl practices on these table a lot almost everyday... he is the house pro at Steinway so he had a huge advantage over efren in this match... more then people think... he had homefield advantage and knows these tables very well
No. He practices on THAT table. Why the dope moved to NYC is beyond me. Must be big on the private gambling scene, or he makes money for teaching pool. No reason to go to a place where the rent and cost of living is so high.
@@cosmicraysshotsintothelight probably for the gambling. Also makes sense why his arms are always in wraps and braces lol
Would u like for Earl to give the win to effie, u dumb asswipe.
Not braces ect, weights so he stays down, over the years he’s done some really strange things to supposedly stay in stroke
@@sheilamclaughlin963 LMAO
They're my favorite players ever in pool and I'm proudly say that I'm so lucky to watch these tow great players taking on each other I can't even support one of them so I'm just enjoying watching this game but Efren is just different from everyone he has that ability to make everything looks easy I mean when watch that guy playing pool you go oh pool is so easy but when try to play it yourself you're going to end up suprized how he does that? What makes like Earl is that he's so confident in himself he doesn't take a long time to make his shot even if he doesn't have a good one he'll do that by extreme confidence
Yes am aim the match of the game sg counting since come out this game from mag num toto SG counting3-13 3-14 am aim Rosalinda amoyo Pagapong by the power of love a whole new world I found a big 7big family 3gineration2021 century
I know this is an old video, but it still cracks me up how people are sitting around the table clanking their silverware and chowing down on food while they play.
No matter what, I still go for a cool, level-headed person that makes him worthy to be called the genuine authentic sportsman like our very own EFREN “bata” REYES & the great boxer MANNY “pacman” PACQUIAO.❤👏❤
Facts ❤ 💯
Efren is just such a class act. I love to watch this man play.
African using the second ball break effectively. Great match countless really good shots. Wish I had that kind of cue ball control and could make it look that easy to do it. Wouldn't it be fun to play that good? Love it! Thank you so much for the video!
Strickland has been "lucky" for over 30 years according to these announcers.
Lol
What I hate most is they have no idea what they are talking about. Strickland is an ass hole but you have to give credits where credit is due. They literally were questioning his decisions from the start. Efren for life tho
Hi
@@CapnCook-mr6ycI literally had to mute them especially the lady
All that crap on Earl's arms, he looks like a Transformer!😮😅
Man comes in your backyard in this game and plays anywhere near you he's twice as good...🐐
AMEN!!! 🙌🏼
For those saying they're calling ball numbers wrong, it was mentioned a couple of times that the monitors the announcers are using aren't showing the balls clearly. They mentioned several times that they weren't sure which ball they were talking about. They guessed, but couldn't be sure. They also can't see playing lines that I am seeing pretty simply in the video. Clearly, they need better equipment.
I played BCA tournaments for a few years back in the early 90's. One thing was common: the more gifted the player, the more they complained if things weren't going exactly their way. Strickland is one of the more prolific, but by no means the only one. Mike Sigel did it ALL the time. They're so used to playing virtuoso-level billiards for so many years, that it's inconceivable that THEY are doing something wrong. In this match, Strickland is so annoyed with his dry breaks, that he forgets to watch what Efren is doing to drop the short corner. Any other player would be curious, and try to see how the opponent is breaking. Strickland not only doesn't do that, he keeps checking the racker to see if he's favoring Reyes. His frustration is all the more amusing because it's HIS table. He's the resident pro at Steinway Billiards. This is HIS room, on HIS table. And he can't drop balls on the break. And he can't stand it.
Efren Reyes has always been a quiet guy. He plays easy and even pace, he says very little, gives nothing away. Strickland being so flamboyant with his antics makes life easy for his opponents, because they know they're getting to him. Reyes' success primarily comes from his easy, patient demeanor. Always keeps his cool, and that makes him competitive in every match.
No excuse, being involved with shooting pool and being around pool a person man or woman shouldn't need a picture perfect 4k or 4 Geforce GTX titans graphic cards quality picture to call out the correct ball. Come on people, its not that hard.
@@tommygun7299 Yeah I'm watching it on my phone and have no problems but the man commentating doesn't sound too knowledgeable and they are watching on a laptop so whatever.
Talking about the 7 ball when Earl is shooting stripes can't be chalked up to vision its a solid ... now if you mix up the 10 and 12 or something on a small screen it really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter regardless if you don't know what they mean when they're talking you probably don't know pool. "You" being a generalization
11:06 beautiful shot. so accurate
earl is smooth af. his mouth, not so much. shut and play earl, goddamit!
Funny you say that as your own mouth flaps away with idiot langauge, hypocrisy is the new cool in 2018 I guess.
@@animalyze7120flapping your mouth away with idiot language is okay at a comment section, not at a pool game. ....goddamnit.
OMG that shot of Mang Efren at 2:11:25 was so impecable. What a creativity. He's a real monster.
Í
*WHAT WAS SO GREAT ABOUT THAT? A COMBINATION SHOT AND THE OTHER BALL WAS IN THE JAWS OF THE POCKET. ANYONE COULD HAVE MADE THAT SHOT, EVEN YOU*
WOW❤! I am shocked Earl...What a magnificent bank shot you made last game in the side pocket!
Always fun to watch these two legends play.
53:30 - Earls complaining about Efren knocking in the corner ball, saying they should have made a rule that you can't shoot from outside the box (I guess), then he says he'll do the same as Efren and make the corner ball, but misses. He was ball watching because Efren was using a second ball break shot, but Earl shot at the head ball. That's why he didn't make the wing ball.
I find it hard to beleive that they both wouldnt understand that.
In the past, I was amazed at Earl but after watching this match, he complained a lot about the arrangement of the ball and it was seen that the arrangement for Efran was even tilted so that when he "break', he did not enter a ball
that is correct, im not totally satisfied with his winning
@@robertpaul710 👌👍as seen @ 2:19:55
They're definitely salt-and-pepper, the two of them! but if your going to serve a world-class meal, you need them both on the table! Top shelf theater!
orang sombong sok paling jago
Nn mm mmmmmn AZ
@@nurilham2319 q1
The 5x10, Earl's favourite table in his home club in N.Y.C. He lived right across the street in a hotel and I believe they put the 5x10 in at his request. Talk about home advantage!
Yeah, how is that allowed? I guess Efren wants to challenge himself. They said he never even played on a 10x5
@Joshua Haynes I'm not taking this too seriously. But in the commentary they literally say over and over that Efren has never played on this size table. I don't know. It's allowed because Efren agreed to it is the answer. But I'd never play for money on someone's local table.
You really think Efron has never shot on a 5 x 10?¿? Yeah I'm sure he may have never played on this particular table wow thats the excuse huh??? Maybe he had a hang nail on his bridge hand too???
@@gino2033
Geez, then he'd have to use a putter....
Turn the volume off on this great match.
Steven Atkin thats exactly what I did. This female announcer is beyond annoying. With all of the “Oh my God”. “ No way”, “Wow” etc. just shut up.
Buncha idiots!
@@ziadbassaj7761 She is absolutely awful!
So sorry! But she is terrible! It's very funny though!!
Well it was funny for a while, but then not! Turned off the commentary ...What a relief!
WE LOVE YOU EFREN REYES ENJOY LIFE SIR !!!!
The best!!! I have seen
Strickland is also a legend people. A extremely dangerous player! Yes might be a sore loser at times but I love he's tantrums lol
Sports need people like Strickland. He has venom and personality, unlike virtually every sportsmen today. People love him, and love to hate him.
When someone is as talented as Earl S., their behavior sometimes fluctuates outside the norm, why? Who can say what is going inside somebody's head? His game is unreal as is Effie's. A pleasure to watch these men play the greatest game ever created.
Agree. When you are as talented as Earl, you live in fear of not playing to your potential. Besides, all games need characters. If everyone had Efren's demeanor, the game would be less exciting. These two were a great contrast in styles.
Well said guys
A good player never complains.strickland has a color.dont like to loose,pride is in vein.
great watch.. thx for the upload !!!
Efren Reyes is my favorite by far
Earl Strickland's aggression is very exhausting. He's the literal opposite of "Cool Hand" Efren Reyes.
I agree but I think maybe it's just his way of psyching out his opponent. Besides, he plays a darn mean game when he is in the zone!
@@RayRay-zt7bj Good point! And yes he does. Could definitely be a strategy. It's so easy for me to watch and critique. A whole different story to actually be doing it-especially when you're one of the top players in the world.
where are the other two videos? the 9 and 10 ball games between them? Love to see those!
It is amazing that no one in the booth and even Earl didn't notice that Efren started to break 2nd ball in with his 3rd or 4th rack.
what does "2nd ball in" mean?
@@davidrafferty2491 … When the cue ball is aimed to strike the first ball under the apex ball. Watch the video on Efren’s 3rd and 4th break. Pay close attention to where the cue ball hits the rack.
@@RickbearcatWhy does that matter? A legal break requires that either a ball be pocketed or at least 4 balls hit a rail. Any object ball can be aimed at.
It matters in and of the fact that NO ONE noticed. ESPECIALLY the people in the booth. They are PAID to notice what is going on. And my comment has NOTHING to do with the legalities of the break, so, I don't have a clue as to why you would even bring that up.@@procrastinator6902
@@procrastinator6902it matters because he was not getting any balls in on the brake until he started hitting the second line!!
Its amazing every time you see the magician at work.
so much fun; i had to post this on fb.
Here we tried to play 15 balls with the same rules as 9 balls. This is the best pool game for this size of table. Imagine its to difficult to run out. There always a tactical battle midway in every game.
Man I have a long way to go with my game. They make it look so easy. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome.
SNOOKER, POOL ( During 2009 on, I got my E P Colors I n both) hut now at the age of 85 , I only play a social game now and then, but I often watch Ronnie O Sullivan's games on my Cellphone ! Love Mike Muller Senior!!!!!
Gail has such a pleasant voice to listen to. Her voice is as pretty as she is.
Same thoughts here 🤩
Both Strickland & Reyes are ridiculously talented. Watching these guys is a pleasure
Playing on a 5x10 table sure makes 8-ball a much easier game, as evidenced by the number of run outs. With almost 25% more playing surface there's a lot more "air" on the table to open things up.
Yet Svb ran out 8 racks in a row on a 6 footer.
And I've seen efren run multiple racks in 8 ball on a 8 footer. Like when he played mike segal
Good observation much easier than bar boxes
I honestly can't figure out whether this is true or not. I guess the answer partially depends on how good you are at making long shots.
@@myblacklab7 it's true playing in a bar table is very hard compared to larger ones the opponents balls block many shots, btw har tables are 3.5 hy 7
@@charlestonbrown148 But it's also difficult to hit long shots on the large tables, at least for us beginners :)
I really like Gail's commentary. She shows the excitement and joy in watching these two masters face off instead of merely analyzing the game.
I don’t really care for the man’s commentary. Tony’s too annoying
@@lookingforahookup The reason Tony is "annoying" is because she has NO CLUE what she's watching, it makes is commentary difficult because she can't counter.
@@user-yw3wo5dv5k
I thought so
Amazingly Amusing!
What's with all of Earl's gear? I play with a somewhat arthritic bridge hand but I don't show up looking like a hockey tryout.
he has tremors so he uses the weights on his bridge arm to try and steady his hand.
johnboy5355 Yeah... Bullshit. But whatever helps him feel better when he’s bitching.
He usas the weight to keep his hand down through the shot
The Glock isn't too annoying but the RPG and string of hand grenades is a bit Gay.
I absolutely admire EFFEN.
Earl Strickland nick name "Chopper Mouth Earl", beside he is a legend, he add drama as a bonus.
Great match !.
Earl really does make it hard to appreciate his game.
Ur crazy
Actually dude I agree.
You're whack. Earl is great for the game.
FACT'S! Such a true statement!
@@josephmclean1538 Me too!
It's so much harder to run off the rack in 8-ball than in 9-ball, the 5 by 10 makes it generally harder, but at least the balls are more spread out.
Earl the pearl has been known to throw the toys out of the pram or baby and bathwater, but can't deny he's entertaining as heck
Such a legendary matchup
I miss these streams from Steinway. Hopefully we can get new ones in the future.
I own this very same 10 foot Brunswick pool table now after Steinway replaced it. I have it set up next to a diamond 9 foot in my basement.
Earl had the corner pockets cut to diamond specs, with the side pockets a 1/4" tighter than diamond side pockets. I didn't change a thing and kept the table with the same pocket sizes that Earl had it set at. It is extremely difficult compared to a diamond, and for these two legends to play at this level on it, proves they are super human.
Are you Finnigan? Lol
Can I come play on it? 😂😅
So I’m confused now actually cuz I called Steinway and they said there’s no such thing as 10ft pool tables..
@@codectified did you tell them there's a TH-cam video with 4.5 million views of a 10 foot table at Steinway? Lol
@@plan9fromsyracuse lol i was going to but then i realized this video is over 30 years old and they probably got new tables since then.. i went to Steinway and only saw 9 footers
5x10 is the only hope for the future of pool. The fact that they have a sold out room for this match proves snooker could do well in the states if more people knew about it.
I do hope so. 5x10 is really the way to go. They could implement different kinds of rules but just by playing on a 5x10 is a challenge.
I love to watch Reyes & Strickland Playing
Üüüğ
İüüğiğ
Efren 'Sniper'Reyes 👏👏👏👏👏
Here in Brazil, there is a snooker player named Baianinho de Mauá, he plays at tables whose pockets are almost the right amount to pass the ball. If he plays this 8 ball game from the USA, at these tables with huge pockets, no one will beat him.
If you are interested, look on youtube for Baianinho de Mauá, he is fantastic, and you will like it.
Lucky chance
1:54:55 what a nice attempt to break out the 9 ball by Earl - so close!
2:3:15 what a nice shot with position, and then what a bad shot! Followed by "You're one lucky guy Efren" - I agree with the commentator about saying shit like that. Crazy shots after that by Earl in that rack, wtf!
2:5:50 Earl calls it and kicks it in!
Nice going Earl...really enjoyed watching the match.
@dan riley Yes, he did.
A display of skill! Wow!
Watching in August 2021. Two powerhouse players on a 5x10. Both great players with two different styles. Strickland with braces/wraps/supports and Reyes with a cue he probably pulled from the house rack. Anyway. Not a slight toward the ultra focused Strickland. Two giants. Both great players.
.
M
I turned off the commentary and enjoyed watching the game more.
Dear god, that woman commentator is a moron. Not that the man is much better.
@@Hrth6 couldn't agree more!
that break shot Efrin is making looks like hes hitting the 2nd row ball , but it looks like a fine slice of the 1st ball when you play it at 1 quarter speed in the settings.
I was taught this break, no way an expert but I was to aim at both balls, so he could be hitting both at the same time. I think he's only doing it because he knows he can sink a ball, otherwise it usually doesn't spread the balls very well.
There is no break shot apex ball hit requirement in 8 ball rules.
I'm reckoning its similar to the 'pocket'in bowling
Yeah I would like to have a chance to play one of these guys. They're Great
No they would be playing you would be holding a cue lol
Had no idea how lucky I was to live in Philly and to see Bata And Django And Karen Corr for multiple years on a weekly basis... Tacony Billiards RIP and Fuscos Billiards which moved.. Man, I was truly a Lucky Individual...