Mark Allen was beaten 5-1 by Robert Milkins at the Welsh Open on Friday, a defeat that has proven costly in more ways than one.
The quarter-final loss means Allen misses out on a €7,300 (£6,500) semi-final bonus, and also rules him out of contention of winning the huge BetVictor European series bonus of €168,000 (£150,000).
Allen needed to reach the semi-final to remain in the hunt for the gigantic bonus. As a result of the defeat, the €168,000 prize will be contested for by Milkins, Joe O'Connor and Ali Carter.
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The prize money certainly seemed to weigh heavy on the minds of both Allen and Milkins in what was a cagey affair. Allen won just one of five frames, with his highest break for the match being a paltry 33.
Milkins didn't fair much better in the scoring terms, with a break of just 42 being his best of the contest.
From start to finish, Allen just wasn't at the races as he missed an easy blue after clearing the reds in the first frame, handing the stanza to his opponent.
They shared the next two frames, before another poor error was punished by Milkins, with the 'milkman' stretching his lead to 3-1.
Milkins won the next to move to 4-1, before another poor effort by Allen on the pink in the final frame gave his 46-year-old opponent the opportunity to clear up and seal a 5-1 thrashing.
“I was awful from start to finish, it was a pitiful performance," said Allen after the match.
"The right player went through. I missed a few balls in the first frame, and just couldn’t get any timing or rhythm going. It’s only one match so I’m not going to beat myself up for it.
"Any thoughts of the bonus were nothing to do with my performance tonight.
"The last time I got beaten heavily was at the Masters when I lost 6-0 to Barry Hawkins and I bounced back the following week by winning the World Grand Prix, so hopefully I can do the same at the Players Championship.”
It's been a stunning season already for Allen who has collected over €606,000 (£540,000) in prize money this campaign.
And while he admitted prior to the quarter-final that he was acutely aware of the serious sums of money up for grabs, Allen, who has had financial issues in the past, was focused solely on picking up another title.
"I am here to try and win the Welsh Open and if I do that then everything else including the bonus takes care of itself," said Allen.
Because of mistakes I have made in the past my finances are structured very strictly.
"Perhaps the amount I receive might be a bit negotiable if I keep earning on the table like I have this season. But that is out of my hands and in many ways that has taken a bit of pressure off me this season.
"I am guaranteed a certain income and I am not playing snooker for money.
"I will probably never reach the dizzy heights of having lots of money in the bank because of those past mistakes. But that has meant I am enjoying the game much more."
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