Australian defending champion Matt Wilkinson fumed at the judging and his own judgement as he bowed out at Bells Beach.
Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas upset Wilkinson 13.73 to 13.00 early on Easter Monday at the Rip Curl Pro as the men's sudden-death third round of the World Surf League event was completed.
Wilkinson joined compatriot Julian Wilson, Brazilian former world champion Gabriel Medina and American legend Kelly Slater as the major round-three casualties.
But Australian former world champion Joel Parkinson was among the winners in the last five round-three heats.
Wilkinson opened his scoring with the highest wave score of the heat, an 8.00, but Dantas was more consistent and won with a 7.00 and 6.73.
The Australian felt he deserved more than an eight for his best wave.
Wilkinson then fell on a couple of waves as he tried to ensure the heat win.
"I thought that my eight should have been a really big score because I really pushed on that one," he said.
"Then I pushed too hard because I thought I had to but I guess I didn't have to.
"Pretty disappointing, but I am looking up."
Parkinson, a three-time Bells Beach champion, beat compatriot Connor O'Leary 15.66 to 10.60.
Brazilian Adriano De Souza and South African Jordy Smith also won through to round four, while Brazilian Filipe Toledo eliminated Australian Adrian Buchan.
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