Blomdahl vs. Reyes (9-Ball Part 3 of 3)

[jasminetomcat]

3:27 - wow - even though he missed, it was that close

[jasminetomcat]

3:27 - wow

[8ballwriter]

GOOD billiard players tend to play good pool.

Old timers said, Willie Hoppe "played pool like a girl." Not one of the modern girls like Jean Balukas, Karen Corr or Allison Fisher mind you, but the old fashioned girls who didn't know how to chalk a cue. Hoppe got the rumor going that "billiard players cannot play good pool."

Jay Bozeman was an excellent pool player, often running over 100 in exhibitions. Bozeman told me that he had banked 15 and out “dozens of times.”

[jskeen23]

I say either one of these guys are going to win at their on discipline over a lengthy match. I'm sure Bloomdhal could have bet whatever he wanted in a race to one hundred and Efren the same in three cushion. Great play Bloomdhal, he has an awesome cueball. I've heard he had played quite a bit of nine ball before this so it's understandable how he could win a race to nine. I also agree that Efren had little chance to beat him in 3 cushion all though he played well. Kudo's to both fun to watch.

[Sammyjeans123]

Efren is definitely in stroke. Back arm is just tossing the stick into the cue like he's waving hello.

[SodatSobat]

This is the only video showing blomdah shooting pool. Just wish there were more examples of people shooting pool in his style.

[zzzfore]

If 14.1 was being played like the old days, Reyes would dominate. Even in 9B, not his best game, remember when he played Earl something like 100+ racks? He came out ahead and Earl is the best 9B player I've ever seen. Never question Reyes' greatness and if you are fool enough to do so, at least don't be fool enough to bet money on it.

[xeniumcool]

@zzzfore search for

"The Color of Money,1996, Efren Reyes vs Earl Strickland"

its complete in youtube ;)

[zzzfore]

Reyes is the best all around player I have ever seen. Yeah, maybe he is not the best at 3C or 9B but how many 9B players can compete at world class or nearly world class 3C? In 1-pocket, Reyes is in a class of his own. Sure he can lose. He is human. But over a long session, he is almost unbeatable. (continued)

[jskeen23]

@zzzfore

I couldn't agree more and as far as nine ball goes he beat everyone in the US gambling, very few players would play him even for cash in fact he had a sign outside his bar in phillipines at one point that read "Anyone in the world get's the 8 for 100'000 US dollars". He beat Earl a race to 120 when Earl was still in his prime and Earl is considered by most professionals to be the bar when it comes to nine ball pool. Practicing 3 cushion for a month straight would bring him to the top.

[mattylga]

I'm reading all these comments and maybe 1 or 2 people know what they're talking about so here goes...Reyes is the best pocket a piece player by far, Blomdahl is the best 3 cushion player hands down( someone said sayginer..wrong), Sayginer is the best 3 cushion TRICK SHOT artist, and 9 ball has had alot of great players over the years...my personal favorite is Nick Varner but there are so many good ones that it's hard to label 1 as the best!!

[JohnPaul1300]

Agree. There are so many great pool players out there. Every city has some guys who when they get hot can hang with anyone. I beat guys way better than me some times, just like I'll lose to some chump once in a while also. Efren is great, maybe the best, but its not like he's head and shoulders above everyone else. There are a ton of guys right on his heels who can beat him on a given night.

[jskeen23]

@mattylga

Well stated. Mike Sigel is my fav and i'm 30 so he's before my time. I watched a race to nine between mike and nick accu-stats calls the video "the miss" and you would know why if you watched it to the end. Nick is stuck 8 -3 in games i believe and corner hooked with Mikey on the hill. He comes back and wins. Best set ever I love watching both those guys.

[gavpots]

They're both fucking awesome, comparisons bore me, just watch 'em shoot. In 100 years they'll both be remembered as legends of the game.

[mattylga]

LOL....I couldn't have said it any better myself!!

[crazypiikkis]

Efren is a true legend, has also played 3-cushion, but moved to pool because there were no money at carom.

The best 3-cushion player alive is Semih Sayginer, and blomdahl is just another swedish gay.

[tan162]

sorry to say but sayginar is not the best 3 c player. hes a good with 3 c trickshots. as for the game he would not stand a change against blomdahl.

[AlTarik]

similar in pool....Mike Massey in not a good Pool player but his excellent trick shot player...Massey would not even have chance against Reyes...

[chachicharms]

torjorn is the best period. 3 cushion is a very hard art to master. look it up on youtube fellas.

[jongcharades]

shot up guys! 1 thing only ok!!! how many tournaments that reyes won? And how much money that he get all the tournament than any other player?

[AlTarik]

this match is probably non title or no money game...that's why Reyes will never show his best...Look closely at the kick shot, he didn't even think well before he shoot, he's look lazy. I remeber on an article, Reyes said: Filipinos are good at Billiard because of money involve in the game. He also added that he play Chess for money too. He said betting can add excitement to the game.....

[ALFONSLOC]

Efren is still the greatest period. FATS, MOSCONI,SIGEL, and even Archer can't and could'nt hang with him on a consistent basis. What he's done for the game is more than Archer has ever done. When Archer loses he pouts like a baby. He tries to control things by mumbling to himself while his opponenet is at the table. When Efren loses he congratulates his opponent and is respectful of the game no matter what.

[RobbieDRD]

yeh thats why archer was player of a decade... that must not mean anything, I am not talking about game ethic, who is nicer, Archer is just more skilled then Reyes.

-Rd.

[coldwater02]

Archer was player of the decade because of the amount of titles he's gathered; it's also a subjective title. Last time I checked, Reyes ability to play so many types of billiards game well.. would seem to make Reyes more skilled than Archer......

[podojones]

The color of money match with strickland and reyes was very close. 120-117. Most top players can beat all the others on certain nights. Reyes never gets rattled thats why he is the best. I have never seen him upset. I would take him in any match vs anyone going to 100 games.

[Stiletos]

I doubt he could keep up with Yang in a race to 100 these days. There are actually quite a few players that would likely outrun him to 100 today.

[BloodyFingerz]

what about earl the pearl strickland? lol?

[dpludwig]

Man.. Blohmdahl is pretty good at nine ball. Maybe not better than Reyes but still pretty decent. Why do I get the impression that some of you were expecting a whitewash in Reyes' favor?

[Koman17]

All I have to say is its so nice just to watch a professional match without all that bullsh!t commentary!

[RobbieDRD]

lol well of course he is gonna say someone else, saying himself would be cocky. Archer is the ideal player to watch in learn from because his form is flawless.

[earlagazo]

But of all the great players man, he decisively said that it was efren reyes! There are lots of good players to choose from but for him, efren was the stand out! i hope you get what i'm trying to point out here.

[RobbieDRD]

9 ball is only about luck when you are not good at it. and every video I watch there are comments like Reyes is the best, no one is better than Reyes, yes he is amazing but I take Johnny Archer over him any day. and if you have the seen the color of money 9 ball is the best form of entertainment because "it's quick and good for tv"

[l00zekk]

Of course there is luck in 9ball even at higher level and Reyes should beat Blomdahl in 9ball in the long run.

[earlagazo]

Johnny Archer is undeniably great. But do you know that when Johnny was interviewed and was asked who he thinks is the greatest pool player ever and that he can consider as his idol, he said that it was Efren Reyes and he didn't even pause for a second to think of his answer. Saying Efren is great would be an understatement. He is the greatest!!! Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy!!!

[Stiletos]

I have talked to alot of old timers and those who saw Mosconi shoot say that if he were born into todays generation of pool players he would be todays dominant player. Far past the level of dominance that Sigel or Efren ever managed in the 80's or 90's.

[prohustler69]

earlagazo, yep ur correct dude! i remember there was a tournament held in the phils and after one of the elimination matches was finished.. the victor, who happens to be earl strickland was also asked who is his idol... and with no hesitations he said... EFREN REYES!

[Takumi4G63]

What many of you don't seem to know is Reyes is a world-class 3-cushion player. He doesn't usually play it because there's no money in it. But when he's in stroke he can hang with the champions of 3-cushion. He recently cleaned out Sang Lee in a money game. You can clearly see his billiards background when he plays one pocket.

[l00zekk]

I know Reyes billiard background and that he can compete at high level in 3-cusion billiards. I just think it's wrong to say Blomdahl is boring or lucky. Reyes was probably not nearly as motivated in this game as Blomdahl but that doesn't change the fact that Torbjorn is a UFO just like Reyes.

[Takumi4G63]

Well, I for one didn't say Blomdahl is boring. And I also did not really say he is lucky. I said that 9-ball has a lot of luck, which anyone who plays a lot of pool knows is true. It's the luckiest of the main pool games. I also said Blomdahl is really good. The reason I said this is because Reyes (from what we saw) was playing great yet he still could only get to 5.

[iralee3c]

Reyes is great at pool, but NOT really world-class at 3c. Reyes played Sang some of the "small games" (not 3c) once in Chicago and I heard Reyes beat him, but anyone can win "small" games of balkline or 1-cushion - you would need to play hundreds of points (if not thousands) to find out who was really better. It [would have been] impossible for Reyes to keep up with Sang Lee in 3-cushion regardless of how much money was at stake or, I should say, especially if more was at stake.

[l00zekk]

Gotta love how Blomdahl uses the cusions though when playing 9ball :)

[l00zekk]

Blomdahl is not boring to watch. I also find 9 ball more fun o watch then 3-cusion billiards but you must admit the guy have some skills. He is a 3-cusion legend but not known to that many ppl cause we all watch 8 and 9-ball.

[belmicah]

Boring==efficient

[CueNaBilliardPromos]

Reyes....Fun to watch

Blomdahl....Boring.

[Takumi4G63]

This match demonstrates how much 9 ball depends on luck. Reyes played great and made some sick outs yet he still lost by this much. Not that this other guy isn't really good as well.

[sc4rygary]

Blomdahl good... Naaah. He's only won a few World Championship trophees in 3-cushion. Hardly worth mentioning. =)

[Takumi4G63]

I was talking about in 9-ball, smart guy. Pool is a very different game from 3-cushion, and Reyes is clearly a better 9-ball (and pool) player. Yes, Blomdahl is good at 9-ball but he isn't the champion that Reyes is in pool.