Mark Selby has endured a mixed season but believes he is hitting form at the perfect time ahead of today’s final, which is now less than 15 minutes away.

“I played good stuff all day,” Selby told ITV after his win over Ding Junhui. “The last frame of the afternoon session was important, to go 6-2 ahead, as 5-3 could have made it a different game tonight.

“I have been playing with more belief this season and that has allowed me to be more natural and free-flowing so I think that’s why I have scored more heavily.

“My safety let me down last season but now it’s back where I want it to be.”