Efren “Bata” Reyes claimed his 5th Master of the Table crown in the 12th Annual Derby City Classic last Sunday at the Horse Shoe Hotel and Casino in Indiana, United States.

With his rousing victory, the 55-year-old Reyes became the first player to win the most number of championships in the history of the event, having won the same titles four times – in 1999, 2004, 2005, and 2007.

Filipino legend Jose “Amang” Parica, who was inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame, won the same title in 2002 while Francisco “Django” Bustamante triumphed in 2008.

The feat is a special award since it was only given to the player who dished out the best performance in three featured events – 9-Ball, One Pocket, and 9-Ball Banks – in the nine-day event that staked a total cash prize of $50,000 (P2.4 million).

Reyes finished runner up in the 9-ball banks and ruled the 9-Ball competition at the expense of American Rodney Morris, 7-4.

Those finishes proved enough to propel him again on top of the event which he has dominated the past 11 years.

In all, Reyes has now won the 9-Ball event four times, One Pocket five times, and the all-around championship or the Master of the table title five times.