Australian star Tyler Wright has reached the final before losing the decider at the World Surf League event at Cascais in Portugal and will have to wait at least another week to be able to claim the 2016 crown.
Her title bid remains on hold ahead of the Roxy Pro next week in France, with American Courtney Conlogue downing her in the Cascais final.
Conlogue held on for a narrow victory with a total of 13.00 to 12.26.
The scenario for Wright was win the event and, if Conlogue failed to make the semis, it was her world title.
But the 24-year-old American had other ideas in her quarter-final win over American Sage Erickson, producing the best wave of the day, for a 9.8 from the judges that featured several cutbacks and a floating lip ride.
Three-time world champion Carissa Moore might have had her dream of a fourth world title shattered by fellow Hawaiian Coco Ho.
Ho nailed the last ride of the heat to knock Moore out of the event.
