Defending champion Mark Selby secured his place in the 2017 World Championship final after an epic 17-15 victory over Ding Junhui at The Crucible on Saturday.

Two-time champion Selby remains on course to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the sport's most prestigious title in Sheffield, after securing his place in the final for the third time in four years.

He will take on four-time champion John Higgins for the right to join Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan in capturing back-to-back Crucible crowns.

Selby was pegged back to 12-12 at the end of the third session on Friday, as Ding demonstrated magnificent mental strength by producing back-to-back centuries to square the match and leave it finely poised ahead of Saturday’s conclusion.

However, he made a strong start to the final session with runs of 33 and 74 to draw first blood and edge his nose back in front.

The Jester then ruthlessly pounced on a missed green by Ding in the next – knocking in a brilliant break of 96 to pull two frames clear again at 14-12.

China’s number one responded well with a run of 52 in a dominant 27th frame to halve the deficit, but a missed red in the next when looking to level the match and Selby pounced for 15-13.

The world number one then moved to the brink of a place in the final after pouncing on another error from Ding, although the 2016 finalist hit back again by controlling frame 30 to keep his hopes alive.

He then closed the gap to a single frame with 73 and had a chance to force a decider, but a missed blue saw Selby capitalise with a break of to finally prevail.

“It was just a great, great game to be involved in,” he said. “I was over-the-moon to come out of last night at 12-12 because I thought that Ding deserved a lead.

“I’m more relieved than anything else. I can’t wait for tomorrow – hopefully, I get a good night’s rest and come back fresh but I’m looking forward to it.”