Jack Whelan booked a place in the last 32 of the ultimatepool.tv Masters after coming through Group B on Wednesday night at Players Pool & Snooker Lounge in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Following Gabriel O’Malley’s 7-5 defeat of Lee Briscoe, former world champion and Pro Series event winner Whelan registered three break clearances and a reverse clearance as he ended the hopes of a gallant Lester Gaunt, 8-3.

In the group final, having taken the first frame, Whelan fell behind for the first time during the night as O’Malley claimed frames two and three. However, ‘The Wonder’ went on a five-frame winning streak – including a break and a reverse clearance – to take control, before later finishing the job, 8-4.