"To get out 10-7, it felt like I was leading. I don't know how I managed to win those three frames, because before that I was shattered. My game was all over the place, missing ball after ball, making it easy for John. The harder I was trying the worse it got. I managed to nick those three frames and that gave me confidence. I think John went to bed that night thinking he'd let one go," Selby said.

"It is such a hard tournament to win physically and mentally. Snooker is one of the toughest sports in the world. There's only four players that have ever defended it and you look at the greats who have played the game," he added.

Higgins won a runner-up prize of 160,000 pounds and moved up to number two in world rankings.

"I think Mark will add to that, whether it's one, two, three or four," said Higgins. "He looks as though he could be the challenger to Stephen Hendry's seven world titles. He's just granite and really tough to play against, so I take my hat off to him. It's up to the likes of Robertson, Trump and Ding to challenge him. They'll be watching that tonight and it will make them desperate to get back on the practice table," Higgens predicted.

"I'm delighted to have got to the final. It's just a pity I couldn't go one better, but I'm proud of myself," he concluded.

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