Jordan Shepherd dropped just six frames throughout the night as he won Week 23 of the Ultimate Pool Masters and progressed to the last 32 of the tournament.

In a section that boasted three current Ultimate Pool professionals, reigning Pro Cup champion Shepherd – who will look to retain his title next week live on BT Sport – began the night in Newcastle-under-Lyme with an 8-3 victory over Jamie Moray.

The Welshman led from the start and was relatively comfortable throughout, although Moray did show glimpses of his quality. Shepherd began and finished with break clearances, and struck a golden break in the fifth frame.

Next up was a reigning world blackball champion Liam Dunster, who was appearing in front of the live cameras for the first time as an Ultimate Pool Professional having played at the Pro Cup qualifiers last weekend.

The renowned Scot – one of 8-ball pool’s most successful and consistent exponents over the last several years – was facing another big name that has recently made the same transition across from the blackball world; Luke Sanges.

Dunster settled in immediately, compiling two break clearances and a reverse clearance in the opening four frames, before later crafting another break clearance in an 8-2 success.

A mouthwatering final between two of the biggest box office names in the sport, Shepherd established a 6-1 advantage with a break clearance – reverse clearance – break clearance run. Dunster, though - who had made a nice reverse clearance in frame three – threatened a comeback as he claimed frames eight and nine, but ‘The Welsh Wizard’ put an end to that, as he secured the next two frames for an 8-3 win.

The Masters is set to return on Wednesday, January 4 with a week featuring Chris Melling.