



Presented by PoolDawg.com

Video provided by Accu-Stats Video Productions January 2008: �The Shot�







Player: Efren Reyes

Event: Sands Regency XXI

Date: June 11, 1995



For the first installment of our new monthly feature detailing amazing plays on the cloth, we take a close look at what is often now described as �the greatest shot in pool history�: Efren Reyes� two-rail kick shot in the case game of the 1995 Sands Regency XXI final.



Ironically, the shot in question came about as a result of a rare Reyes mistake. With the score tied 12-12 in the race-to-13 final against Earl Strickland, Reyes opted for a safety on the 5 ball. He banked the 5 off the foot rail, intending to leave the cue ball behind the 6, and the 5 on the head rail. And that�s exactly what happened � except the 5 accidentally nudged the 8 ball into the head-rail left-corner pocket on its way up table. Reyes left himself the same devious safe he intended for Strickland.



�I thought I�d lost the match when I saw the 5 ball on the end rail like that,� Reyes told BD after executing the improbable two-rail kick. �I didn�t think I could make the ball � I just wanted to hit it.� Contacted specially for this feature, Reyes had a slightly different recollection. �It was a do-or-die shot,� he said through his sponsor, Aristeo Puyat. �I was really going for it, thinking that I had a slim chance because the 5 was already near the pocket. I had a 10 percent chance. I didn�t have a safety in mind. I just hoped that if I missed, the cue ball would end up in a difficult position so Earl could not make an easy runout.�



Reyes applied mild left topspin on the cue ball, so it would have more bounce and speed off the rails. Sure enough, the shot not only knocked the 5 down the end rail and into the corner pocket, but the cue ball then strolled downtable for great shape on the 6. The crowd erupted into a spontaneous standing ovation, and even Strickland applauded from his seat. After Reyes ran to the 9 ball, Strickland rose from his chair, ceded the match and lifted Reyes� hand high in victory.



�This shot is sure to go down in pool history,� Strickland said afterward. If he had to lose, he said, he�d prefer to do so �with a great shot like [that one].�





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2008

For the first installment of our new monthly feature detailing amazing plays on the cloth, we take a close look at what is often now described as �the greatest shot in pool history�: Efren Reyes� two-rail kick shot in the case game of the 1995 Sands Regency XXI final.Ironically, the shot in question came about as a result of a rare Reyes mistake. With the score tied 12-12 in the race-to-13 final against Earl Strickland, Reyes opted for a safety on the 5 ball. He banked the 5 off the foot rail, intending to leave the cue ball behind the 6, and the 5 on the head rail. And that�s exactly what happened � except the 5 accidentally nudged the 8 ball into the head-rail left-corner pocket on its way up table. Reyes left himself the same devious safe he intended for Strickland.�I thought I�d lost the match when I saw the 5 ball on the end rail like that,�Reyes told BD after executing the improbable two-rail kick. �I didn�t think I could make the ball � I just wanted to hit it.� Contacted specially for this feature, Reyes had a slightly different recollection. �It was a do-or-die shot,� he said through his sponsor, Aristeo Puyat. �I was really going for it, thinking that I had a slim chance because the 5 was already near the pocket. I had a 10 percent chance. I didn�t have a safety in mind. I just hoped that if I missed, the cue ball would end up in a difficult position so Earl could not make an easy runout.�Reyes applied mild left topspin on the cue ball, so it would have more bounce and speed off the rails. Sure enough, the shot not only knocked the 5 down the end rail and into the corner pocket, but the cue ball then strolled downtable for great shape on the 6. The crowd erupted into a spontaneous standing ovation, and even Strickland applauded from his seat. After Reyes ran to the 9 ball, Strickland rose from his chair, ceded the match and lifted Reyes� hand high in victory.�This shot is sure to go down in pool history,� Strickland said afterward. If he had to lose, he said, he�d prefer to do so �with a great shot like [that one].� (Check out Accu-Stats� full library of great shots and amazing matches at www.accu-stats.com)

