Intro:

Eleven time world champion Kelly Slater was dumped out of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal on Thursday to leave the race for the ASP world title wide open.

Script:

Kelly Slater knows how to win.

But the 11 time ASP World champion didn't get his own way during his third round duel with Brazil's Raoni Monteiro at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

The American failed to find any waves with real scoring potential throughout his thirty minute heat and could only manage a total of 5.27 - nowhere near good enough to beat his opponent.

SOUNDBITE: (English), Kelly Slater. Eleven time ASP World champion
"It's the way it is. Maybe it will make it for a better finish, somehow it can become exciting on whatever. I'm sort of sneakily up there at the top having carried a couple of bad results already, but now I'm definitely going to be carrying one of those through to the end of the year at least. So, it's a little frustrating but it might make it a little more interesting in the long run."

In contrast to Slater, Monteiro was in flying form.

The 2012 ASP World Title will be awarded to the surfer with the best eight out of 10 results.

Slater has won three events, but also finished 25th for an absence in Brazil and has now finished thirteenth twice to leave his title hopes in the balance.

The final two events of the season will be held in Santa Cruz and Hawaii.