Ryan Day scored the first 147 break in Tour Championship history - featuring two incredible pots on the final two reds - but it proved in vain as Mark Selby ran out a 10-7 winner to reach the semi-finals.
Having lost the first two frames, Day produced a perfect response with a third career maximum after potting the final two reds from difficult positions to put himself firmly in pole position for the £10,000 highest-break prize.
He said: "It was a funny one because Mark got the red down in to the baulk area and I had no shot, forced me into going for a red that if I missed I stick him plum in the balls. Luckily enough it went in and I went on to make a 147."
However, it was world number two Selby who finished the afternoon session with a 6-2 lead, which included a 132 clearance in the seventh frame, as he looked to secure a place in the semi-finals against Shaun Murphy.
The Leicester cueman then produced a superb 131 in the opening frame of the evening session to extend his lead to 7-2 and that soon became 8-2 before Day mounted a spirited comeback to cut the deficit to 8-5.
Selby hit back to move one frame away from victory before Day scored all 147 points for the second time in the match - although on this occasion it was over two visits, with the highest being 139.
The Welshman pulled another back with a run of 60 to threaten an almighty comeback only for Selby to finally finish the job with a break of 77.