Full match highlight video is embedded at the bottom of this article.

In the world of pool, some matches are remembered for brilliance, others for controversy, and a rare few for the personalities that collide across the table. The 1988

Brunswick World Open quarterfinal between a 34-year-old Efren “Bata” Reyes and the flamboyant Keith “Earthquake” McCready had all three.

It was not just a contest of skill — it was a battle of nerves, banter, and raw charisma.

A Tale of Two Characters

Efren Reyes was already becoming a global force. Fresh off titles like the Sands Regency Open and the PBA McDermott Masters, the Filipino legend was gaining a reputation for quiet brilliance — his eyes calm, his cue a wand of geometry.

Across from him stood Keith McCready, an American hustler turned showman, famous for his sidearm stroke and constant chatter. He wasn’t just playing Reyes — he was playing the crowd, the cameras, and the psychology of the match. Known for his role in

The Color of Money alongside Tom Cruise, McCready blurred the line between pool hall hustler and Hollywood character.

The Early Storm

McCready stormed ahead, 6–3, talking, joking, and needling his opponent. At one point, a disputed foul call rattled Reyes. Replays showed he struck the correct ball first, but the referee’s decision stood, giving McCready a crucial rack. McCready seized the moment, leaning into the drama:

“I’ll take it though it wasn’t no foul!”

The crowd laughed, but Reyes frowned. This was more than pool — it was psychological warfare.

The Magician Fights Back

Reyes, visibly frustrated, had a choice: crumble under the noise, or let his cue do the talking. And slowly, the Magician came alive.

A dazzling rail-first kick shot brought the crowd to its feet. With newfound rhythm, Reyes ran multiple racks, closing the gap to 7–6. McCready’s constant patter grew quieter. For a moment, it seemed Reyes had wrestled control of both the match and the atmosphere.

The Final Racks

But McCready was never one to fade quietly. He pulled off a gutsy jump shot save, then dared the impossible: a left-handed run-out under pressure. With both men tied

8–8, it came down to the final rack.

Reyes broke dry — no balls fell. McCready stepped in, smiling at the audience as if the drama had been scripted. With swagger, shot-making, and a dash of luck, he cleared the table. The Earthquake had shaken the Magician, winning

Aftermath

McCready went on to face Earl Strickland in the semifinals, where his run ended. Strickland would claim the championship, cementing another chapter in American pool dominance.

As for Reyes, this loss was but a stepping stone. He would go on to capture the

1994 U.S. Open Nine-Ball Championship, the 1999 WPA World Championship, and dozens more titles, ultimately becoming recognized as the greatest pool player of all time.

The McCready match lives on not for its fairness, but for its fire. It was pool at its rawest: one man’s quiet genius against another man’s hurricane of personality.

Why This Match Still Matters

Pool is more than perfect strokes and break shots. It is theater, psychology, and the clash of personalities. Reyes represented the quiet killer, a player who let his cue speak. McCready represented the hustler-entertainer, using wit and words as weapons.

Decades later, fans still argue about the foul call, laugh at McCready’s one-liners, and admire Reyes’ composure. Matches like this remind us that legends are not built on wins alone, but on the stories that surround them.

FULL VIDEO