What are you doing you fool I thought, this is the best player on the planet and recently back from sweeping all before him in the Derby City Classic in the USA!

Well that was the whole point after all, I was confident in my ability but I was not playing him to win money. I wanted to find out how good the BEST really was, and in my opinion he was head and shoulders above every other professional pool player in the world. A legend in the game "The Magician" was famous for his cue ball control and calm demeanor but it was his brilliant shot making that earned him is often understated nickname.

Twenty minutes to go and I could feel the butterfly's as my driver who was doing a fine impression of Michael Schumacher weaved through the red lights and districts of Manila's back streets. I had made the mistake (in my excitement) of telling Mr Schumacher that I was about to play Efren "Bata" Reyes - this was almost the death of me! Pool is the national sport of the Philippines and Efren Reyes is basically a god there, more famous than almost any other person. I sensed that my taxi driver friend felt it his duty to deliver me to Efren as quickly as possible so he could relieve me of my cash.

He arrived outside the building and I walked up the stairs. I had been in this pool hall a week earlier in the day time but it was quite and it didn't really prepare me for what I saw. The place was packed with about 200-300 local players and it looked like there was another money match being played in the middle. I turned around and went to the bathroom before walking in. What are you doing I thought, you can't play on 9 ball tables with a 9 ball cue! You're going to make yourself look like a right idiot! However I reminded mysef that I was only going to see how good the very best was, it didn't matter if I lost I was expected too! I also have to admit that although it had been over 10 years since I played for money in front of a packed house, the buzz was there and I recognized it, I couldn't wait to play him!

I walked into the pool room and leant against the bar and scanned the room with my eyes looking for a guy that looked like he was expecting me, or better still the Magician himself. I spotted them both in the corner so I walked over, attracting many curious stares along the way. I felt like new meat in a Lions den and I was being eye's up by all the young cubs, but I only had eyes for the King. I shook hands with Efren's backer and also Efren. He hardly noticed me though as he was engrossed in a game of chess for $5 and I almost felt bag disturbing him. After a few minutes he quit the game from a losing position which didn't seem to help his mood. Great I thought he might take it out on me and play his best game. I wanted this more than anything and I knew I had to make a game that gave me the best chance of achieving this. We started talking about the game and I told him I wanted to play 8 bal. He said "not 1 pocket? I replied that I was "crap at one pocket" and he would "murder me", he replied it was "his best game" probably realizing I wasn't going to play it. He agreed to play 8 ball, I asked for the break playing even and to my surprise he said "he wouldn't get a shot". I took this as a compliment but I knew he was only trying to get the best game. Still this took me by surprise as I really didn't expect him to be so unwilling to offer me much in terms of weight? Not that I wanted it really but I was still surprised. However he did say I can have the first break, "very generous, thanks" I replied (given you're the world champion I thought!)

[more soon...]