Selby, who won the Saga Insurance Masters and Welsh Open last season, remembers O’Sullivan’s brilliant clearance all too well.

“I did everything right really,” he recalls.

“I had a chance to go 8-5 in front and then I went 8-7 behind. But I managed to level at 8-8 – and the rest is history really.

“No disrespect to any other player, but I think he was the only player who could have done that against me in that situation – and he did it as if it was nothing really.

“Ronnie’s always a pleasure to watch when he’s flowing.

“He’s probably the only player who, when you’re sitting in your chair, you can’t really get downbeat about – because he’s so good to watch. But at the same time, you’d sooner it be you and come through the match yourself.”

Selby also lost 7-2 to the ’Rocket’ in the Premier League final last week.

But he insists: “It’s not dented my confidence, because I know all I did was miss a couple of balls – that’s all it takes against someone of Ronnie’s standard. He just seems to punish you and run away with it.

“Obviously it was a little bit disappointing having got to the final and then not really performed – but as it was my debut season in the Premier League, I was also very happy with what I had achieved.

“My 5-0 win over Stephen Hendry [in the semi-final] was probably some of the best snooker I have played on TV for a while. I’ve had patches in every tournament I’ve played, but consistency-wise – especially against someone of Hendry’s class – it was good.”

Selby is on course to meet O’Sullivan in the semi-final again this time around but first he must get past two-time world champion Mark Williams, in what looks a tricky opener.

“I’ve got a tough game in the first round,” he confirmed.

“But my form’s good at the moment, and I’m looking forward to it.

“There’s not many easy games nowadays, because there are so many good players around – but with Mark having the experience of being there and done it, it will be a hard game.

“I’ve played him twice before and never beaten him. He beat me in the world championship about three years ago and also in the UK about the second year when I was a professional – so I hope I will beat him for the first time this weekend.”

Selby has struggled to repeat his triumphs of last year, with just the one semi-final appearance at the Roewe Shanghai Masters this season, but he is adamant another tournament victory is just around the corner.

“Last year, obviously, I had a great season winning a couple of tournaments,” he added.

“There was a lot of pressure on me coming into this year, knowing that I was defending champion in certain events, but also to try and do better than I did last year – which is very difficult to do.

“But I’m taking it one tournament at a time. I know my game’s in good shape at the moment and I’m more than capable of going on to win another tournament.

“There’s no reason why I can’t win it this year. With it being a longer format, it gives you more time to get into the match – so you can still have a bad session and come out the other end and win.

“Most of the players probably prefer the longer format rather than the shorter best-of-nine. I’m looking forward to it.”