Efren Reyes in the 1990s vs Current SVB

B

bythecliff

Registered
Who's better? I saw SVB play some near perfect pool at the SBE. Sure, he's not the fanciest kid on the block unlike Efren, but I would say his consistency with Cue ball control and shotmaking may be even better than efren in his era of dominance in the 1990s. Who do you think would win if they had a race to 13 in 10-ball right now?
 
bythecliff said:
Who's better? I saw SVB play some near perfect pool at the SBE. Sure, he's not the fanciest kid on the block unlike Efren, but I would say his consistency with Cue ball control and shotmaking may be even better than efren in his era of dominance in the 1990s. Who do you think would win if they had a race to 13 in 10-ball right now?
Click to expand...

SVB would win more often than not. Efren wouldn't be able to overcome his break. I think Alex vs SVB was probably similar to what prime Efren vs SVB would have been. Alex out shot and out moved SVB by a tiny margin, but there is just no way to overcome his break without a big break of your own.
 
Yeah it seems like Efren's advantage is in the cue ball control, kicking and safety play. The SVB vs Bustamante TAR matchup a few months ago demonstrated that Bustamante can outmanuver Shane in safeties and CBC. however, one could argue that Bustamante also had a more powerful break than Efren. I just remember that Efren, in his prime, made more mistakes and missed more shots than Shane does now.
 
Apples and Oranges. Times are different today. The whole game has changed but if you want a definite answer I would say it would be really close!! I love SVB's game but Efren is Efren and anybody pitted against him (even today) shakes a little bit when faced with the master...
 
SVB is the better 10-ball player right now, but Efren is fast approaching 60-years-old.

Now, go back to Efrens prime and you have little to compare with because 9-ball was all the rage back then.

In his prime, Efren was most definitely the best "all-around" pool player to ever pick up a cue.

IMO, in his prime, Efren playing SVB races to 13 in 10-ball would have to be a toss-up.

Maniac
 
Shane looks like he tries really hard every shot. Efren looked like he was on vacation and then would hit some kicks or safeties most people would consider too risky to even attempt and he would do it flawlessly and blow your mind.

Textbook Shane is consistent and incredibly strong. Efren is just... the magician imo.
 
well here ismy 2 cents

it isnt evan close......yet.....maybe someday it will be, or maybe the kid will pull ahead of the young efren....he is on his way....but he has a ways to go...he knows it also we talked about it after what he did at the derby.....also when it comes to the debates of the greatest american ever i still say he has more to do to catch earl, thats right we both think earl was the best american player ever....multipletime world champion....multiple time us open champ....if you can lookback at earls career on the table only......wow ......and svb isnt there yet....but he is on the way... only time will tell....just my honest opinion:thumbup:
 
bythecliff said:
Who's better? I saw SVB play some near perfect pool at the SBE. Sure, he's not the fanciest kid on the block unlike Efren, but I would say his consistency with Cue ball control and shotmaking may be even better than efren in his era of dominance in the 1990s. Who do you think would win if they had a race to 13 in 10-ball right now?
Click to expand...

One of the reasons this is a tough question is because 10-ball wasn't the game of choice in the 90's. Had it been, Efren has shown that whatever the game of choice is, he becomes one of the dominant figures. And 9-ball as many titles as Efren won around the world was never the game that showcased all his total skill package.

I really think the comparison for SVB would be against other 9-ball players whose game could translate to 10-ball. That would be the Sigels, Stricklands and the Halls. Right now, seeing SVB today and the HoFers in their prime, I'd say that SVB is still behind them (prime to prime). But Shane's game improves every year. Give it three years? LOL!!!

Freddie
 
bignasty said:
it isnt evan close......yet.....maybe someday it will be, or maybe the kid will pull ahead of the young efren....he is on his way....but he has a ways to go...he knows it also we talked about it after what he did at the derby.....also when it comes to the debates of the greatest american ever i still say he has more to do to catch earl, thats right we both think earl was the best american player ever....multipletime world champion....multiple time us open champ....if you can lookback at earls career on the table only......wow ......and svb isnt there yet....but he is on the way... only time will tell....just my honest opinion:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Very reasonable assessment. In my opinion, Efren is currently the greatest player of all time. His prowess with a pool cue is unmatched (not to say it can't be).

As far as Earl goes, anyone who undermines his accomplishments is a fool. He may be a little off and is often a dick, but he is the best 9 ball player maybe ever. His 9 ball titles are unreal and will be difficult for anyone to surpass. It is my opinion that Earl is the best ball pocketer that has ever played the game and probably the best at spinning the cueball also.

For the original question, it would be close but I think Efren still has the edge. Efren said himself in an interview that his best playing days were in the late 70's/early 80's before he came to America.

Only time will tell how Shane will fare, but him even being in the debate after a 5 year career speaks volumes about his ability. I think 20 years from now he will be mentioned in the top of the best to ever play the game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KRJ
Cornerman said:
...Efren has shown that whatever the game of choice is, he becomes one of the dominant figures. ...
Freddie
Click to expand...
Fred, I really don't know why you have no friends, you are a really smart guy.
Fred, I know why you have no friends, you are a really smart guy.

As said Fred, Efren has proven over and over again that he will find a way to win.

Perhaps not the best on paper but he has burned that paper more often than not.
 
Shane is a great player and will be known as a great player but these people comparing him to Efren in his prime didn't see Efren running racks of rotation for practice in the 80's and 90's.
 
refren v shane

this was one of the funniest threads I have ever seen. There is absolutely no doubt efren is the best player ever, with parica a close second. Both these guys are so far ahead of shane its not funny. when efren (and parica) were shanes age and if they played him right now would run right through him. they both have forgotten more than he probally will ever know. Shane is the best american player right now, but there are at least 10 guys in the world I would bet to beat him in any game right now (orcullo, busty, yang, Ko, Chang, to name a few. Im not knocking shane because he plays great and great for pool but for this question there is no doubt You have to be the best player for your time to be considered to have a shot against the best player of all time Efren reyes
 
Kind of depends on the race...long race would go to Efren in his prime, every time. Short race is up in the air...maybe an edge to SVB, but not sure. Watch the Color of Money match...Earl in his prime (and yes, he was still in his prime) had him beat, but Efren ground him out. NO ONE played more creatively than Efren...he found a way to beat you every time.

Shane may get there, but not yet....
 
tommygunn78 said:
this was one of the funniest threads I have ever seen. There is absolutely no doubt efren is the best player ever, with parica a close second. Both these guys are so far ahead of shane its not funny. when efren (and parica) were shanes age and if they played him right now would run right through him. they both have forgotten more than he probally will ever know. Shane is the best american player right now, but there are at least 10 guys in the world I would bet to beat him in any game right now (orcullo, busty, yang, Ko, Chang, to name a few. Im not knocking shane because he plays great and great for pool but for this question there is no doubt You have to be the best player for your time to be considered to have a shot against the best player of all time Efren reyes
Click to expand...

Then there is a lotta money to be made by "at least 10 guys in the world".
 
shane vs efren

Black-Balled said:
Then there is a lotta money to be made by "at least 10 guys in the world".
Click to expand...

Yes there is. Thats why shane soesn't play them he can't win, he only beats up on the guys that he knows he is the favorite in those tar matches. He loses every time he plays busty. And in my eyes busty might be the worst player on that 10 man list. And if the table gets tighter shane doesn't play nearly as well because it becomes a game more than a break.
 
tommygunn78 said:
Yes there is. Thats why shane soesn't play them he can't win, he only beats up on the guys that he knows he is the favorite in those tar matches. He loses every time he plays busty. And in my eyes busty might be the worst player on that 10 man list. And if the table gets tighter shane doesn't play nearly as well because it becomes a game more than a break.
Click to expand...
I got one word for them: Ship it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3OFZVIimfc
5905094567_2bbe929d0f_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
The man is considered best in the world at 8-Ball, Rotation, 9-Ball, and 1-Pocket...and a master of kicking...and safeties...and lagging LOL. How could 10-Ball be his achilles heel?!?

Remember the TCOM 9-ball? Earl had the "huge break advantage" over Efren and still lost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top