Professional Number One Shane Thompson is the first player through to the last 16 of the 2022 Vinny.co.uk Ultimate Pool Champions League after winning the opening group on Monday night.

‘The Safecracker’ enjoyed a sensational 2021 campaign - claiming a trio of Professional Series titles - and his pursuit of this newly ranked event has started well, although he was certainly made to work for his qualification.

Former European Champion and UPG Professional Number 19 Dylan Leary laid down a marker in the evening’s first match as he produced two reverse clearances and a break clearance to defeat highly-rated qualifier Marc Fleming 4-1.

In a meeting of UPG professionals, Thompson defeated Geo Edgar 3-1. Teenager Edgar stayed out in the arena, but his hopes of topping the group were extinguished when he lost 2-1 to fellow Scotsman Fleming, who in turn kept his hopes alive.

The tie of the night came next as earlier winners Thompson and Northern Ireland’s Leary clashed. Leary continued where he left off, crafting a reverse clearance in the opening frame before doubling his lead with the second.

Englishman Thompson, though, counter-attacked with a beautiful purple patch, winning three consecutive frames with a reverse clearance either side of break clearances.

When Leary broke dry in frame six, it appeared as if Thompson was going to capitalise again, but with time wearing thin on the match-clock he unexpectedly missed. With around 70 seconds left remaining, Leary swung the pendulum again, clearing the table with just seconds left to level the match 3-3. The contest ended as a draw.

Going into the final set of matches, three players could still finish top and progress to phase two, although Fleming’s ambitions were dashed when Thompson defeated him 4-1.

That meant that Thompson moved to five points and guaranteed himself at least a 6-reds shootout for top spot. The pressure was on Leary who needed maximum points against the already eliminated Edgar to also reach five points. In a quality game where both players led, the end result of 3-3 didn’t enhance either player’s position in the table and saw Thompson become the first group winner to qualify for phase two later in the year.