Efren Reyes bows out of World Pool Masters competition at SM North

MANILA, Philippines—Only two Filipino cue artists remain in the 2011 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters as an out-of-form Efren “Bata” Reyes fell in the hands of England’s Darren Appleton, 5-8, at The Block in SM North Edsa.

The 57-year-old Reyes showed his age as he failed to pocket easy shots and committed crucial errors including an illegal break–leading to a one-nine combination by Appleton that sealed the win.

The crowd’s darling, Reyes moved to within 4-5 after falling behind by three racks in the fifth.

But Appleton, the 2009 winner of the event, showed great resolve as he even gave Reyes a dose of his own medicine with a couple of trick shots.

Reyes, perhaps the most celebrated pool artist in the history of the sport, showed signs of life with his impeccable safety shots that included a shot where he squeezed in the cue-ball in between the red three and the rail to the delight of the fans.

However, Reyes failed to seize the opportunities with his poor preparation from one ball to the other.

Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante may have gotten the boot but the Philippines still have reigning titlist Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza, who made it into the Final 8 of the three-day tourney.

Orcollo though, will get his hands full against Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jung-lin even as Lee Van Corteza will clash with multi-titled German Ralf Souquet with the winner advancing into the semifinals on Monday.