Mikey Wright's breakthrough season shows no signs of slowing after the Australian wildcard beat compatriot and World Surf League leader Julian Wilson in Bali.
The 21-year-old won their third-round heat at Keramas, lapping up the pressure to score a 5.67 with his final wave to win by .44 points in a low-scoring battle.
Wilson's early departure means he relinquishes the leader's jersey to Brazil's Felipe Toledo, who won the final heat of the day to book his spot in the fourth round.
The Sunshine Coast surfer entered in form and looked in control after registering 11.83 across his first two waves.
But he wasn't able to better that and left the door ajar for the charismatic Wright, who is gunning for a permanent spot on tour next year alongside brother and sister Owen and Tyler.
"I got two decent waves to start and was trying to build and nothing quite stuck," Wilson said on the WSL broadcast.
"I'm disappointed I couldn't better a 5.8 or even a six ... I felt like I left a lot to be desired out there ... I've just got to cop it on the chin."
Wilson's exit wasn't the only shock, with defending world champion John John Florence bowing out in the day's first heat to Jesse Mendes.
The Brazilian took to the air and, despite barely landing his all-or-nothing effort, was rewarded with a 7.17 to continue the Hawaiian's frustrating season.
Fellow Australian Matt Wilkinson was also beaten by .44 points by Griffin Colapinto in what was described by commentators as one of the heats of the year.
Wilkinson had shrugged off a lacklustre 2018 campaign to find form in Bali and rallied with 7.47 and 7.93-point waves, only to be outdone by the high-flying American's last ditch 8.67-point effort.
Joel Parkinson and Owen Wright also suffered narrow losses while Adrian Buchan progressed in a low-scoring heat to complete a mixed day for Australia's men.
Australia's women fared better, with Tyler Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons, Keely Andrew and series leader Stephanie Gilmore all progressing to the third round.
Gilmore found a perfect tube in round one to score a nine and direct entry to round three, while defending world champion Wright did it the hard way after finishing last in her opening-round surf.
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