Double world champion Tyler Wright has fallen at the final hurdle at the El Salvador Pro, going down to rising star Caroline Marks from the USA.
The Australian overcame compatriot and eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore to reach the final, but found a dominant Marks in uncompromising form.
Marks, who had beaten another multiple world champion in Carissa Moore in the last-four, strung together a series of slashing turns to set the pace in the final.
The 21-year-old surfed the first wave of the heat earning 4.83, before improving on her lead with a solid 6.33.
Wright had a slow heat but got herself back in contention with 5.10. She then went for a huge finishing manoeuvre but came unstuck on the landing, hitting her arm on the fall to finish with a total 8.47.
The American's 11.60 earned her a fourth world championship Tour event victory.
"This time last year was my first event back after one of the hardest times of my life, so I'm emotional," said Marks, who moves to No.3 in the world rankings.
"I've been super-inspired by the younger girls and all the new energy on Tour. I haven't won a CT since 2021, so I'm just super-stoked."
Wright will hold onto her No.2 world ranking after her runners-up finish, continuing an impressive year in which she has made four finals.
She has never clinched a spot in the final five and is hoping this will be the year she makes her debut at the Rip Curl WSL finals.
"Congrats to Caroline," Wright said. "I know she had quite a journey as well, so it's really exciting to see her do well.
"I'm super-happy with my campaign. If I had ridden out of that turn, it probably would have been a different outcome.
"The waves were really tricky and it was hard to find rhythm after a certain point."
Wright had earlier beaten last year's El Salvador winner Gilmore in the first heat of the day.
Gilmore started strong, earning the highest single-wave score of the heat, a 6.83.
But Wright answered back with a pair of six-point rides, showcasing her power with strong finishing manoeuvres.
Unable to find a backup score of significance, Gilmore was eliminated leaving the Australian tour veterans tied at 14 each in their head-to-head battle.
World champion Filipe Toledo got his revenge over Liam O'Brien's semi-final conqueror Griffin Colapinto to win the men's title.
The Brazilian came from behind to beat the young Californian who defeated him in last year's final.
Colapinto and Toledo are ranked one and two in the world as the tour heads to Brazil for the third-last stop on the 10-event world tour.
The top five men and women at the end of the tour will compete in California in September.
Spots at next year's Olympics are also up for grabs, with the top 10 men and top eight women booking a ticket to Teahupo'o in Tahiti for next year's Games.
