Surfing: Fanning misses early title

Mick Fanning. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Australia's Mick Fanning missed a chance to claim his third world surfing championship when he was beaten in the quarter-finals at the Portugal Pro.

NSW surfer Kai Otton won their heat with 10 points to Fanning's 9.43 in inconsistent 1m waves at Peniche.

Otton then accounted for world champion Joel Parkinson in the semis and won his maiden world tour event by beating rookie of the year Nat Young in the final.

The 33-year-old Otton compiled 12.23 points to the American's 11.03.

It was the first ever final for Otton in his seven years on the elite tour.

Fanning, 32, had to make the semis to accumulate sufficient points to take the crown before the season-ending event in Hawaii in December.

His nearest challenger, 11-time champion Kelly Slater, was eliminated in the second round at Peniche but can still take the title with a win at the Pipeline Masters.

But the American would need Fanning to again be beaten before the semifinals to overtake the Australian's points lead.

"It's a bit frustrating, obviously I just wanted to surf and unfortunately it didn't really happen," Fanning said of the lack of waves in his quarter final.

"I'm stoked that I made some points here, it puts me in a better position going into Pipe and I'm excited to go to Hawaii. I'll do the whole triple crown, so this could be fun."

The poor conditions left Slater frustrated earlier in the week as he bowed out equal 25th.

"I'm just having trouble being very inspired by the surf in the last three events. My performance probably shows that," he said at the time.AAP