Stephen Bunting needed to win just four legs in his final match but could muster just two as Mike De Decker booked his place in the last eight of the PDC Home Tour.
Former BDO world champion Bunting had earlier beaten De Decker, and going into the final match of the group he needed to win just four legs against fellow St Helens thrower Alan Tabern to get through.
However, Bunting crumbled and suffered a shock 6-2 loss as De Decker topped the group on leg difference.
Bunting said: "I never turned up there, after the first two games I played well. It was a bit different when you know you need a certain amount of legs. Alan played well."
It was Tabern's first win of the night, with the 53-year-old saying his pride had kicked in after a disappointing night.
"I wouldn't expect any favours off anybody else, and I'm here to play the game like everybody else," Tabern said.
Bunting had been in control of his own fate after beating De Decker 6-5 in the opening contest, producing a 14-dart leg at the death to take the win.
De Decker recovered with a 6-5 win over Tabern but Bunting was still on top after beating another former Lakeside champion Glen Durrant 6-3.
Durrant had taken a 2-0 lead courtesy of 14 and 15-darters, the first sealed with a 117 checkout.
Bunting stormed back and won six of the next seven legs to secure victory, averaging 101 and throwing four maximums.
But after De Decker beat Durrant 6-4, Bunting needed four legs from the final contest and came up short.
PDC Home Tour Darts: Wednesday results
Group Two - Wednesday May 27
- Stephen Bunting 6-5 Mike De Decker
- Glen Durrant 6-3 Alan Tabern
- Mike De Decker 6-5 Alan Tabern
- Stephen Bunting 6-3 Glen Durrant
- Glen Durrant 4-6 Mike De Decker
- Alan Tabern 6-2 Stephen Bunting
GROUP STANDINGS
- Mike De Decker (Q) P 3 W 2 L 1 Leg Diff +2 Pts 4
- Stephen Bunting P 3 W 2 L 1 Leg Diff 0 Pts 4
- Alan Tabern P 3 W 1 L 2 Leg Diff 0 Pts 2
- Glen Durrant P 3 W 1 L 2 Leg Diff -2 Pts 2
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