Possibly the best standard ever produced on an episode of Monday night Ultimate Pool, Tom Cousins was sensational as he won Group 4 and qualified for the last 16 of the Vinny.co.uk Champions League.

In yet another blockbuster opening phase group – which certainly lived up to its billing and was played in an electric atmosphere - two-time world champion Cousins won all three of his matches to stay on course for another major title and the £10,000 first prize.

Across the night as a whole, there were 33 completed frames – 17 were break clearances, 3 were reverse clearances and 2 were Golden Breaks.

The night began with four-time Mosconi Cup and Supreme Series event winner Karl Boyes returning to his smaller table roots. Blackpool-based Boyes qualified for this event and showed he meant business with a faultless 4-1 victory over professional Eddie Barker, who himself recorded a break dish.

The bar remained incredibly high in the next match as Cousins and number 12 ranked professional Greg Batten chalked up four consecutive break clearances between them. However, frame six proved to be pivotal as both had chances to win it before Cousins took it and then reverse cleared in the decider when Batten went in-off on his break.

Batten stayed out in the arena to keep his hopes alight as he defeated and eliminated Barker from the event, 3-1.

In a memorable match four, Boyes swelled his perfect record on the break to six successive frames, but it still wasn’t enough as recent Professional Cup finalist Cousins hit a Golden Break and two break clearances of his own in an epic 4-3 victory.

Going into the final set of fixtures, three players could still win the group, but Boyes – whose perfect break sequence ended on the eighth break - was removed from the running when Batten registered a 3-2 success to go on to four points alongside Cousins.

The Welshman needed at least a point to avoid a 6-reds shootout but a gallant Barker break cleared in the opening frame to take the lead. However, Cousins pulled himself away from a potentially sticky situation, rattling off the next four frames – finishing with a break and then a reverse clearance – to win 4-1 and end the evening with a 100% record.

Cousins completes a fantasy last 16 group which will be contested later this year consisting of Shane Thompson, Jack Whelan and defending champion Chris Melling.

The Ultimate Pool circuit goes on the road this weekend with the start of the 2022 Ultimate Pool Series which takes place at The Grand Hotel in Blackpool between the 4th-6th March. Sign up for access to the free livestreams here.