Mark Selby is looking on the bright side despite losing in the final of the Welsh Open.

The 'Jester from Leicester' was beaten 9-6 by China's Ding Junhui after a high-quality battle at the Newport Centre.

However, Selby, who was one ball away from going out in the first round, has extended his lead at the top of the world rankings and is hopeful he can win a title before the season ends in May.

With the China Open, Player's Tour Championship Final and World Championship remaining, 28-year-old Selby has only three more bites at adding to his Shanghai Masters title this season.

"I'm taking the positives out of the week because I've turned my form around and, with more hard work, hopefully I can win another title this season," said Selby.

"I had my fair share of chances in the match and you can't afford to miss them against a player of Ding's class. He's one of the best break-builders.

"The frame I lost to go 2-2 rather than 3-1 up was probably the turning point, even if it didn't seem like it at the time.

"At 5-3 down, I had to take my chances and I didn't take enough of them.

"I never give up until the last ball is potted and, if I could have got to 8-7, I would have been right in it, but every credit to Ding for how well he played."

Selby won the Welsh Open in 2008 – his first ranking title – but found that Ding had a tad extra in his locker during Sunday's final to scoop the £30,000 top prize.

After going 2-1 up thanks to breaks of 103 and 124, Selby lost the fourth when he missed the black ball after potting the pink, allowing Ding to snatch it with a tough shot.

Ding took control of the match from then on, winning three of the next four frames to establish a 5-3 lead, and he was never behind during the evening session.

"I missed too many balls. I probably let him off the hook in the first session," said Selby, who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 in the semi-finals.

"But I was one ball away from going out in the first round (to Sam Baird), so every game after that is a bonus. I was delighted to get to the final."

The match included five centuries and seven more runs of more than 50, Selby taking the highest break prize of the tournament with a 145 total clearance in the 14th frame of the final.