Ali Carter took home £105,000 after finishing runner-up at the Shanghai Masters, but he only qualified due to Mark Allen.
The Essex-based player, currently positioned at 17th in the world rankings, found himself outside the tournament's automatic qualification threshold.
The invitational competition typically reserves places for the world's top 16 players. However, tenth-ranked Mark Allen's inability to participate created an unexpected opportunity.
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The championship match saw Carter face former world champion Kyren Wilson in a closely fought contest. Despite a valiant effort, the Essex player fell short in an 11-9 defeat.
Ali Carter managed to make it to runner-up at the Shanghai Masters
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Allen informed Carter prior to the tournament of his withdrawal through an enigmatic message that initially puzzled the recipient.
"He just texts me and says 'Merry Christmas, mate'," Carter explained, per The Sun.
The 46-year-old struggled to decipher the meaning before realising Allen was confirming his absence from Shanghai. Carter responded with gratitude, acknowledging he owed his friend "a vodka" for the unexpected gift.
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Carter's path to the final showcased impressive form throughout the tournament. His campaign began with comfortable victories against Le Qui and Mark Williams in the early stages.
The competition intensified when he faced Xiao Guodong in a tightly contested match. Carter prevailed 6-5 in what proved to be a crucial encounter.
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Mark Allen had to pull out of allowing Ali Carter to take his place
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His semi-final against Mark Selby presented another stern test. The match appeared destined for a deciding frame before Carter seized control of the contest.
A remarkable sequence saw him claim four consecutive frames to secure his final berth. This impressive run of form demonstrated the veteran player's ability to perform under pressure at the highest level of the sport.
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The narrow margin reflected the competitive nature of the encounter between two accomplished players. Wilson's experience at the highest level ultimately proved decisive in securing the title.
Nevertheless, Carter's unexpected tournament run yielded significant financial rewards. His runner-up finish earned him £105,000, a substantial prize that vindicated his performance throughout the competition.
Ali Carter finished runner-up to Kyren Wilson in a close final
|Getty
The lucrative payday represented a remarkable outcome for a player who had initially been excluded from the field.
As for Wilson, the champion picked up £210,000 in prize money - a decade on from his first triumph in Shanghai.