Ronnie O'Sullivan's challenge for a fifth UK Championship title stalled on the launchpad when, from 6-4 up, he was beaten 9-6 by Stuart Bingham, the world No23 from Basildon.
The release of O'Sullivan's father 10 days ago, after 18 years in prison, appeared to have given O'Sullivan new energy and inspiration as he beat Neil Robertson 5-1 and Shaun Murphy 7-1 to win a ninth Premier League title. But he never looked at ease against Bingham who, apart from a few attacks of clincher's disease as he closed in on the most high-profile win of his career, sustained a high enough level of performance to keep the three-times world champion under pressure.
To judge from his mistakes and some of his shot choices, O'Sullivan collapsed inwardly at least three frames from the end, with "nothing more in the tank", as he put it. Bingham also gained the impression that "he threw the towel in and threw his arm at a few".
Elsewhere, Stephen Hendry potted the first red of the deciding frame from distance and made 73 to beat Jimmy White 9-8.
"It was a vintage first and last frame but what came in between was embarrassing," said Hendry, who will be 42 next month. He has not won a title since February 2005.
White, 48, won the revived world seniors title last month. He said: "It was a bad match and I was gutted with the way I played."
The first two frames saw 104 from Hendry and 115 from White but subsequent frames often degenerated into a carnival of mutual error. From 4-4 overnight they staggered frame for frame to 8-8 before Hendry managed a decisive flash of his old quality.