Mark Selby beats John Higgins in Guangzhou thriller

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Mark Selby can finally breathe a big sigh of relief.

In a seven-hour marathon thriller that finished after midnight in Guangzhou, south China, the world number one snooker player and a three-time world champion captured his first ranking title of the season after outsmarting a tenacious John Higgins in the China Championship final.

Selby established an early 3-1 lead, but after Higgins managed to level the scores following the first mid-session interval, there was never more than one frame separating the world-class pair.

The hotly contested encounter seemed to be swinging the way of Higgins when he secured a 5-4 lead heading into the evening session, but Selby was in a totally different proposition after the break, winning three of the first four frames to go 7-6 in front.

However, the roller-coaster ride continued as Higgins swayed the momentum back again after pegging back two frames in a row and Selby immediately restored parity in the 16th frame to make it 8-8.

Mark Selby came out on top in a high-quality final at the China Championship in Guangzhou, south China on September 30. /VCG Photo

With the lead changing hands in rapid succession, Ronnie O'Sullivan, who just retained the Shanghai Masters crown a fortnight ago, felt the need to chip in on Twitter to hail the scintillating forms of the two tactical masters.

"Higgins Selby final 2 proper warriors, this is proper match snooker. This is why they are true champions," beamed the five-time world champion.

The pair duly delivered in brilliant fashion when the tussle went down to the wire.

Higgins seemed on the brink of grinding out a hard-fought victory after he won the 17th frame and clinched a 48-0 lead in the next, but Selby had other ideas as the Jester from Leicester showed tremendous resilience to force the decider before keeping the momentum seeing off Higgins at the final hurdle.

John Higgins' wait for a another crown will have to go on a little longer after this devastating loss in Guangzhou, south China on September 30. /VCG Photo

"I felt happy from the start because I knew my game was in good shape. I just wanted to enjoy the match because John is one of the all-time greats so to play him in a major final is something you dream of," said a relieved Selby, who will pocket 195,541 US dollars in prize money.

"To come out on the winning side is even better," he added.

It was Selby's first ranking title this season and his seventh in China.

Despite enduring a painful and draining night, Higgins was exceptionally gracious in his defeat.

"It was a long match and we both had chances. The best player won in the end and every credit to Mark."