Aaron Hill has missed out on a place in the UK Championship after a 6-1 defeat to Long Zehuang in the penultimate round of qualifying at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.
The Corkman was no match for the world number 54, falling 3-0 down and then losing the final frame before the interval in heartbreaking fashion.
Long had moved 57-0 up in that fourth frame, before a gallant comeback from Hill, only to slip up with just two balls left on the table when on 65.
The Chinese player potted the pink and black to move into a 4-0 lead.
The one-way traffic continued but Hill avoid a whitewash with his highest break of the match, 86, to reduce the lead to 5-1.
Long sealed the victory with a half-century to advance.
Ken Doherty, Fergal Quinn, Jordan Brown, Robbie McGuigan and Leone Crowley were beaten in the first round of qualifying earlier this week, meaning Mark Allen will be the only Irish participant in the outright event.
Meanwhile the recently-crowned Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski suffered a surprise defeat to Louis Heathcote in today's third round, going down 6-2.
Heathcote will face Hill’s conqueror Long in the final qualifying round on Thursday.
