Leeds’s Lines loses out in China to Bingham

The 19-year-old - the current European Under-21 champion - has already beaten world No 1 Mark Selby and Mark Williams in recent weeks.

Now Lines - who is following in his father Peter’s footsteps as a snooker player - can tick off reaching his first professional final.

But it was a step too far for Lines, who had won six matches in Haining to reach the final, losing out 4-0 to Stuart Bingham - who collected his fourth Asian Tour title.

“I’m just over the moon to win another Asian Tour event,” said Bingham. “Oli is a promising young player coming through in England, hats off to him for getting this far.

Bingham nicked the first frame by potting brown and blue, having earlier made a break of 54. Frame two also came down to the colours and Basildon’s 38-year-old Bingham cleared from blue to black for 2-0. He dominated the third with a top break of 31, and took the fourth 61-11 to secure the £10,000 first prize.

Lines beat Ryan Day 4-2 in the quarter-finals and edged out Jimmy Robertson 4-3 in the semis, making an 89 in frame six and taking the decider 87-7.

“I struggled from the start,” said Lines. “I didn’t settle and I was nervous before it started. I just needed to get one frame to settle down.”

Next up for Lines is the International Open in China, and the teenager is just hoping to carry on his swift education in the professional ranks.

“I just want to keep winning matches and see how far I can get,” he said. “I’ve got a wildcard first game in Chengdu, then if I win that it’s Rod Lawler which will be another tough game.”