Higgins claims early advantage

Higgins won the final three frames when he kept his 23-year-old opponent largely off the table in the best-of-35 encounter.

But Selby could take heart from his general showing in the biggest match of his life and he was giving every indication that hot favourite Higgins would not have an easy ride to the title.

Higgins had achieved one major objective before entering the arena after regaining the top spot in the rankings for the 2007-2008 campaign ahead of last year's world champion Graeme Dott and number three Shaun Murphy.

The Scot is the fifth player to have regained the number one berth after Ray Reardon, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams, with the 31-year-old last in top position for the 1999-2000 season.

Selby, who is assured of 11th spot in the new rankings irrespective of the result of the final, was the third qualifier to be contesting the final after Terry Griffiths in 1979 and Shaun Murphy two years ago.

And his performances during the past fortnight and the early frames of the final came in for praise from Willie Thorne, the last leading player to come from Leicester before the emergence of Selby.

Thorne said: "This week Mark has changed gear. He has been more aggressive, has made 10 centuries in this tournament and looked the real deal.

"To contend major championships Mark's break-building had to improve, and that has certainly been the case in the last few weeks."