Mark Selby has beaten two-time defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-14 in the World Championship final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

Victory in the all-English clash saw Selby, who was 10-5 down, win his first world title after losing in the 2007 final.

For O’Sullivan, a five-time world champion in all, Monday’s defeat was his first in snooker’s showpiece match.

Selby sealed victory in an often gruelling contest by holding his nerve to clear all the colours in the 32nd frame.

“It was amazing. It could not be better,” Selby told the BBC.

“There’s no better way than beating Ronnie in the final. I dug in, I did not play pretty snooker early on but as it wore on I thought I did well.

“It was a tough day yesterday and the last two games were huge. To get back into 10-7 gave me a chance.

“It’s not really sunk in but my father passed away when I was 16 and I always said I wanted to win the world title for him.”

Meanwhile a sporting O’Sullivan said: “I want to congratulate Mark on a fantastic tournament. He’s been the best player over 17 days. That was tough. He had me in all sorts of trouble. In the end I was numb as he was too strong and tough.

“I’ve never been in such a good place, I’ve enjoyed these last 17 days. Maybe I would have thrown in the towel a few years ago but I tried my hardest.”

This success for Selby, now the new world number one, saw him avoid an unwanted hat-trick of defeats in the finals of snooker’s three major tournaments this season, having lost to Australia’s Neil Robertson – the man he defeated in his Crucible semi-final – in the climax of the UK Championship and going down 10-4 to O’Sullivan at the culmination of the Masters.