England’s Mark Selby held his nerve in a ruthless display to beat China’s Ding Junhui 18-14 last night and win the world snooker championship for the second time.

World number one Selby, champion in 2014, never trailed in the match as he ended Ding’s hopes of becoming the first Asian player to win the biggest prize in the sport.

Ding, who lost the first six frames, fought back on Sunday to leave Selby 10-7 ahead overnight at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The Chinese player started well yesterday and reduced the deficit to 11-10 but Selby rallied and went into the final session 14-11 ahead.

Selby, 32, extended his advantage to 16-11 but Ding, the first Asian player to reach the final, was not finished, conjuring up breaks of 70, 73 and 103 to fight back to 16-14.

The 31st frame was crucial, Selby producing superbly disciplined snooker to win it after a 51-minute tactical battle and he dominated the next to seal the title.

Meanwhile, Barry Hearn announced the Crucible will keep the World Championship until at least 2027 in a move that crushed Chinese hopes of snatching the event.

The tournament was brought to Sheffield in 1977 by promoter Mike Watterson, whose wife Carole watched a play in the theatre and suggested it would make an ideal snooker venue.

It was never then expected to stage the tournament for half a century, but the landmark will be reached with the 10-year extension to Sheffield’s existing deal.

The Crucible’s 980-seat capacity is a frustrating restriction, and there had been speculation other venues in the city would be considered, including the vast Sheffield Arena.

But World Snooker chairman Hearn said: “The Crucible is where we come from, there’s the history, that’s where the deal’s for. The deal is with the Crucible Theatre as well as Sheffield City Council.”

Hearn played down the prospect of snooker moving away from Sheffield when the new deal expires.

“Oh do me a favour,” said the 67-year-old. “It may be my last 10 years in Sheffield but I don’t know about snooker.”