Jimmy White's chances of becoming Embassy world champion for the first time suffered another crushing blow last night, this time at the hands of Stephen Lee.
The six times Crucible Theatre finalist suffered a second round knockout against Lee, despite leading 10-7 early in the final session.
However, it was Lee, the world number seven from Trowbridge, who finished strongly to claim six of the last seven frames and record a 13-11 win.
Lee, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals at Sheffield, now plays Alan McManus or Marco Fu for a place in the last four of the £1.682 million event.
It was an excellent performance by the 28-year-old but the result will not endear him to White's legions of fans.
Indeed, with the early demise of Ronnie O'Sullivan, another major crowd puller has departed the tournament with 10 days to go.
At least official bookmakers Ladbrokes were smiling as a White world title win would have cost them £400,000.
The only saving grace for White was that he is likely to keep his place in the top 16 next season and will not need to qualify.
Meanwhile, Ken Doherty was having a torrid time on the adjoining table against Glasgow's Graeme Dott with the Scot carving out a surprise 6-2 lead over the 1997 world champion.
The world number 12, making only his fourth appearance at the Crucible, has never been beyond the last 16. However, if he can add seven of the remaining 17 frames he will break new ground when the match concludes on Monday afternoon.
Dott led 3-0 with a top break of just 40 and after world number five Doherty pinched frame four with a 26-clearance, the Scot notched three more frames to move 6-1 clear.
Doherty scored just seven points as Dott replied with runs of 58, 67 and 80.
Crucially for the Dubliner, he scrapped his way to success in the last frame of the night but he still has work to do when the game resumes.