STUART Bingham was beaten 5-3 by veteran Peter Lines at the German Masters.
Bingham, 37, from Vange, swept away Lines with a 4-0 win in the the final of the Pink Ribbon invitational last season, but it was much closer in Berlin yesterday.
World number seven Bingham trailed 4-3 during a cagey seventh frame and was leading at one stage. But following a period of safety play Lines made a break of 18 to claim the frame and victory in the best of nine frames clash.
The match was in the last 64 of the event at the Tempodrom.
Lines, 44, from Leeds, is world ranked 55 and will face either Anthony Hamilton in the second round.
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