The two Tour Championship finalists clearly have a huge amount of respect for one another, with John Higgins paying Mark Selby pretty much the ultimate compliment in snooker.

He believes that aside from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Selby is the best to pick up a cue that he has faced.

He told ITV: “Mark is an incredible competitor and an incredible champion. He’s one of the best players who has ever held a cue, without a shadow of a doubt.

“I say it all the time, these other great champions who are winning multiple events have to have steel in them. They have got to have the whole package.

“A lot of the top players have got all that, your Judd Trump, Kyren (Wilson) coming on the scene. He’s an incredible competitor.

“Without a doubt he’s one of the best I’ve ever faced. I’d probably put him behind just O’Sullivan.”