Eleven time world champion Kelly Slater was dumped out of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal \ to leave the race for the ASP world title wide open.
Slater described his third round duel with Brazil's Raoni Monteiro as one of the most frustrating heats of his long and illustrious career.
The American failed to find any waves with real scoring potential during his thirty minute heat and could only manage a paltry total of 5.27 - nowhere near good enough to beat his opponent.
By contrast, Monteiro was in flying form - the world number 32 making the most of the two metre waves of Supertubos.
The 2012 ASP World Title will be awarded to the surfer with the best eight out of 10 ASP WCT results by year's end.
Slater currently carries three event wins (Fiji, Trestles and France), but also a 25th for an absence in Brazil and now two 13ths (Tahiti, Portugal) - to leave his hopes of a twelfth world crown in the balance.
SNTV