Jack Lisowski is steadily climbing the world rankings, but insists a place at next year’s Masters would be a bonus rather than a goal.

The Cheltenham potter is currently ranked at 17, one place outside where a player needs to be to compete in the iconic tournament.

The 27-year-old is now hoping to compile a solid Northern Ireland Open campaign, having beaten Hossein Vafaei at the opening stage of this year’s tournament in Belfast to set up a tie with Liam Highfield.

While victory over Vafaei gives him a building block for the rest of the week, the left-hander is very much focusing on enjoying the here and now rather than contemplating what a good run of form might mean for him in a future tournament.

“He’s my good mate and it’s really tough playing your friends. But it’s really good to beat him and get my foot in the tournament,” Lisowski said.

“[The Masters] would be bonus. I think I’m close.

“If I get in, it’s a bonus, the way my rankings are going, I haven’t got a load of points coming [my way] – if it can happen this year, it would be awesome.

“But I’m just enjoying it this year. It’s all new for me and I’m having a lot of fun.”

Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, with analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds