A CENTURY break was not enough to stop Scunthorpe snooker ace Matthew Couch from bowing out of the world championship qualifiers in Sheffield.

It was a big disappointment for the 35-year-old player who was pipped 10-8 by former Irish amateur champion Brendan O'Donoghue.

Couch went into the match in confident mood, having beaten O'Donoghue 9-7 in their only previous meeting last year.

But in a marathon match which did not finish until 1.30 in the morning, he found himself always chasing, despite a 103 break in one of the frames.

"I was trailing 6-3 at one stage, then won five of the next seven frames to be back level at eight-all," said Couch.

"I worked really hard to get back into the game and to lose out 10-8 is really disappointing.

"I did not really get much luck and I am shattered at the moment."

Victory would have taken Couch one step nearer to securing his place on the main tour for next year.

"I can still do that if other results go my way. I will just have to wait and see," he declared.

Couch first turned professional back in 1992 and beat former world champion John Parrott 9-3 in last year's qualifiers for the Crucible.