Mark Selby is back on top form as he stormed to China Open glory after thrashing Barry Hawkins in a one-sided final.

The world number one has had a difficult season and went into the China Open having won just one major ranking event all campaign – the International Championship in November.

But now Selby goes into the upcoming World Championship full of confidence again after defending the title he also won twelve months ago after beating Hawkins 11-3 in Beijing.

The Leicester star has won the World Championship in the past two years and wants to join the likes of legends Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis who have won snooker’s biggest trophy three times on the spin at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The World Championship starts on Saturday, April 21 when Selby will kick off his defence after beating John Higgins in last year’s final. Selby is hoping to Higgins in becoming a four-time world champion in the coming weeks.

After his China Open glory Selby said: “I have felt good all week, as if my game was coming back.

“It’s very satisfying to be able to go out there knowing my game is in good shape. Coming here I didn’t know what to expect, but it couldn’t have gone any better.

“In the early part of my career I got to a lot of ranking finals and lost. I doubted myself for a while. Since then it has been hard work, dedication and practice, I started winning them and gained more belief.

“The way I have performed in most of my matches here, playing well and scoring well, my confidence will be high going to Sheffield.”

Mark Selby’s route to China Open glory

Prelim – beat Wang Yuchen 6-4

Round 1 – beat Scott Donaldson 6-4

Round 2 – beat Ben Woollaston 6-3

Round 3 – beat Lyu Haotian 6-1

Quarter-Final – beat Mark Williams 6-2

Semi-Final – beat Kyren Wilson 10-8

Final – beat Barry Hawkins 11-3