By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
CONSIDERED as the Goat (Greatest of all time) in their respective events, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and billiard legend Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes put up a chess match, where they’re both known as religious worshipers of the mind-boggling sport.
And the result?
The 67-year-old Reyes from Luzon pummeled the 42-year-old fighting senator from Mindanao, 2-0 in an ego-boosting showdown of nerves and wits witnessed by their adoring fans.
The exhibition over-the-board chess duel was held at the famous Billiard Hall in Talumpong Street, Barangay Malamig in Mandaluyong City on Monday, obviously as part of Pacquiao’s fanfare for his presidential bid.
Before taking their friendly rivalry to the 64-square-board, Pacquiao earlier defeated Reyes over the green table, before yielding to another billiard champion Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante in his next billiards match.
“Akala ko pagbigyan ni Reyes sa chess, pero inubos si Manny ng dalawang beses. Adik kasi ang dalawang yan sa chess kaya’t larong karangalan talaga,” said chess journalist and National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.
In one game seen live on Bernardino’s Facebook Page, the black-wielding Pacquiao played aggressively by pawn-storming Reyes in the Queen-side. But with a minor piece advantage, the ageless Reyes ― known as the ‘Magician’ in billiard ― calmly parried Pacquiao’s attack en route to a trouble-free win.
It can be recalled that Pacquiao lasted for 41 moves before being checkmated by the 10-year-old version of reigning world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the Celebrity Charity Challenge match, which served as a side event to the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour finals earlier this month.
According to Bernardino, the Pacquiao-Reyes chess bout was “chess-toric” to Filipino chess fans as Pacquiao is the world’s only eight-division boxing champion and Reyes is the greatest billiard player in the world.
“It’s rare to see them play chess live across the 64-square-board. It’s definitely a chess-toric moment in the Philippines. Anyway, pinagbigyan din lang si Bata,” said in jest sportswriter Winchell Campos, a confidante of Team Pacman.
International billiards and snooker champion Marlon Manalo hosted the event along with some officials of Mandaluyong.
In defeat, Pacquiao was humble to acknowledge his supporters through his own Facebook page.
“I am grateful to the world’s greatest and billiards legends Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Django Bustamante for expressing their support in my fight for the presidency,” said Pacquiao.
“It is an honor to be with the likes of Reyes and Bustamante in my vision to transform our country into a progressive, modern, and corrupt-free nation. We will make sure that we continue to help our athletes even in our own capacity. Long live the Filipino athletes.”
Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy for president on October 1 under the Probinsya Muna Development Initiative or Promdi, one of the political organizations under the MP3 Alliance.
