One-pocket: Efren Reyes - Niels Feijen

Roy Steffensen

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
Niels Feijen is really getting "addicted" to one-pocket, and has played it a lot recently.

Yesterday he played Efren Reyes. I have gambled in one-pocket against both of them, and would love to see that matchup!!!

Report from Niels Feijen's website:

Hey there,

Just got done with a 7,5 hour battle with the Magician Our plan was to play the USA in Rotterdam right after the press conference, but that got cancelled so I stayed in the Hague and tried to locate the Philipino's. They were already in the Hague so I hurried to 't Duintje, where they would be around 15:00!!!!

Marco was putting a new cloth on center court so we started on another table the first two sets.

Races to 3 for 100bucks with 9-7 handicap on my break and 10-7 on his break. He spots the whole planed plus the best one pocket players so ain't gonna play the guy even just yet



Lost the first set but then won 3 in a row. We changed the handicap to 9-7 and the Efren won 3 sets in a row. We played one more set and won that one 3-0 to make things even. Another good one hole battle

Nick and me in action tomorrow night! And the Phillipino's will be back in the Hague on Wednesday!
 
If he can hang with Efren at 9-7, then he's playing some damn good 1-pocket.

Is 1-pocket played much in Europe? I have no clue, but I would have guessed no. I'd love to see 1-pocket catch on globally, right now it seems to be mainly in the US, with obvious exceptions (e.g. Efren). There's a lot of great players who I've never seen or heard of playing 1-pocket.
 
Playing Efren tough with a 2 or 3 ball spot puts Neils in VERY elite company (Cliff, Jose, Alex and Corey are all I can come up with). I don't know if I would be telling the world about this, though. There can't be a bigger knock in 1P than playing Efren close with a marginal spot. At any rate, as a firm believer that 1P is the supreme pocket billiards game, I would love to see it gain in popularity in Europe and Asia. Once you are hooked on one pocket, you ain't spittin' the hook out - it's almost as bad as golf.
 
I'd have to imagine that Efren is the one that would love to play this game for a lot more than a race to 3 for $100 w/ the same spot or even giving up a bit more. Regardless, it still says a lot for Niels's one pocket game. I only dream of beating Efren in one pocket, no matter the weight. Major kudos to Niels.

Ryan
 
I think Niels can now safely be called the 2nd best European one pocket player.
 
jnav447 said:
Playing Efren tough with a 2 or 3 ball spot puts Neils in VERY elite company (Cliff, Jose, Alex and Corey are all I can come up with). I don't know if I would be telling the world about this, though. There can't be a bigger knock in 1P than playing Efren close with a marginal spot. At any rate, as a firm believer that 1P is the supreme pocket billiards game, I would love to see it gain in popularity in Europe and Asia. Once you are hooked on one pocket, you ain't spittin' the hook out - it's almost as bad as golf.
Click to expand...

Scott Frost as well. As good as any of the above.
 
Roy Steffensen said:
Who's nr 1?
Click to expand...

I think I like Marcus, just because he showed an interest in it and was gambling at it a long time ago. After Marcus, I would've surmised a severe drop off to #2, but Niels playing Efren 9-7 sounds pretty strong.
 
senor said:
I think I like Marcus, just because he showed an interest in it and was gambling at it a long time ago. After Marcus, I would've surmised a severe drop off to #2, but Niels playing Efren 9-7 sounds pretty strong.
Click to expand...

I have played both in one pocket and I would bet on Niels all the time if they ever match up!

No way Marcus is #1 in Europe, IMO.

Maybe Marcus didn't play his A-game when we played, but I wasn't too impressed of what he did. I also saw him gambling in one pocket against Vincent Faquet and won, and I wasn't too impressed of that either. He also refused to play "unknown" Roberto Gomez from Philippines in one pocket, while Niels was ready in no time. Unfortunately that match up didn't happen cause I overslept and couldn't open the poolhall in time before Niels had to leave... :(

Btw: Roberto Gomez plays Efren even in One Pocket. He lost 5 - 3 when I watched the match. If he only gets a travel visa to the US he will be dangerous.
 
Last edited:
Great to hear of Euro players mixing it up at One Pocket!
Especially to hear that this One Pocket action took place across the pond!!
 
Roy Steffensen said:
I have played both in one pocket and I would bet on Niels all the time if they ever match up!

No way Marcus is #1 in Europe, IMO.

Maybe Marcus didn't play his A-game when we played, but I wasn't too impressed of what he did. I also saw him gambling in one pocket against Vincent Faquet and won, and I wasn't too impressed of that either. He also refused to play "unknown" Roberto Gomez from Philippines in one pocket, while Niels was ready in no time. Unfortunately that match up didn't happen cause I overslept and couldn't open the poolhall in time before Niels had to leave... :(

Btw: Roberto Gomez plays Efren even in One Pocket. He lost 5 - 3 when I watched the match. If he only gets a travel visa to the US he will be dangerous.
Click to expand...

Hey Roy, I want a one pocket game with you in the Philippines at time of the WPC. Up for it? Stakes: Dinner and bragging rights on AZ :-))

See you there!
 
senor said:
I think I like Marcus, just because he showed an interest in it and was gambling at it a long time ago. After Marcus, I would've surmised a severe drop off to #2, but Niels playing Efren 9-7 sounds pretty strong.
Click to expand...


I don't know his current speed and the guy is moody anyway, but I'd bet Evgeny Stalev would be Europe's numero uno in 1-pocket. (At least if he wanted..)
 
I wonder how Niels hangs with Efren when the bet gets jacked ;)
 
ineedaspot said:
If he can hang with Efren at 9-7, then he's playing some damn good 1-pocket.

Is 1-pocket played much in Europe?...
Click to expand...

I know which side my cheese is on at that game!;)
 
Marvel said:
I don't know his current speed and the guy is moody anyway, but I'd bet Evgeny Stalev would be Europe's numero uno in 1-pocket. (At least if he wanted..)
Click to expand...

There's a good candidate.

Roy, I believe what you said about Niels. Obviously, he can excel at any pool game he chooses to play.
 
Whew ! it's been awhile since I last visited AZB. talking about getting hijacked from left to right. enough of my life. anyway, Neils is a great player and does atleast credit himself for everything he has accomplished. beating Reyes (whether a gimme or not) should be considered a feat. I'm not sure of how would a Reyes-Neils 1P encounter would fare if the stakes were high, giving the same handicap 9-7. and giving the benefit of a doubt that Neils was still on the learning phase of 1P, which Reyes might had gone easy on Neils for starters. it was good that Neils didn't play Efren even at 1P as of the moment for what the score tells of what the outcome would had been if they played even.

Speaking of Gomez, this kid got a very good potential in 1P if he can play Efren even and not get massacred. probably he got some nasty banking skills and CB control.

back to Neils, it would be an interesting matchup if Neils plays either Corey and his buddy Alex. I think that would be an even match played dead even.
 
Niels played Efren today too:

And there they were again

Walking through the door in 't Duintje, where I've spend many afternoons all by myself. Now I'm playing Efren and Busty there also, cool!!

We played a race to 5 today with the 9-7 handicap for 200. It went 2-2, then 3-2 Efren and I had him 6-0 in the next. I made a mistake and he runs 7 so we fight for the last two which he both banks in of course

Then in the next we go to the final 2 balls again and I play him safe by his hole and a ball all the way on the other side 20 cm left of the middle diamond so no banks for him...

He kicks on rail on that ball and banks it of the long rail in his hole and makes the last long shot also 2-5..

Played one more set for 100 race to 3 cause didn't want to wear myself out by playing another 8 hours. He went up 0-2 but I got a game and then ran 7 and out in the next. Tough final rack but I managed to get like 7 balls by my hole and eventually he conceded after a bad safe so -100 but 1-1 in sets again.

Nick and me tomorrow night again and Efren and me maybe Friday again!

Niels told me a couple of months ago that in about a year ago he got 9 - 6 from Efren and didn't have a chance in hell. Looks like he has improved his game now ;)
 
John Barton said:
Hey Roy, I want a one pocket game with you in the Philippines at time of the WPC. Up for it? Stakes: Dinner and bragging rights on AZ :-))

See you there!
Click to expand...

I gotta go practise one pocket for a couple of weeks now :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top