Masters finalist Ali Carter had a birthday to forget as he crashed to a surprise defeat in the World Championship qualifiers.

Carter, who played in the final of the Masters at the start of the year. will not compete in the Crucible for the first time since 2002 after suffering a 6-3 loss to snooker new boy Louis Heathcote.

The 23-year-old from Leicester, competing in his first season as a professional, held his nerve after Carter fought back back from 4-0 down to reduce his arrears to just a single frame.

Ali Carter. Picture by Monique Limbos

Heathcote now stands just one win more win away from making his Crucible debut.

For the past 17 years Carter, who today was celebrating his 41st birthday, has made the TV stages of the World Championship – reaching the final twice but losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan on both occasions.

Meanwhile, Jimmy White’s hopes of making a surprise comeback to the Crucible this year ended as he crashed to a 6-1 loss to Robert Milkins.