A mini revival by Selby saw him win three of four frames before O'Sullivan completed his victory.
"All wins are good - coming into this week I wasn't sure how I would perform but I played well," said O'Sullivan.
"I want to congratulate Mark on a brilliant tournament. He is a very consistent player so I'm pleased to have won. It is a miracle - I don't know how I won it this week.
"Playing Mark you expect he will take you all the way and sometimes the worst thing you can do is build a lead because you never feel you are near the winning line," added the 38-year-old.
It was the fifth time in seven years Selby had reached the final but he could only look on as O'Sullivan took control.
Things might have been different had the defending champion taken chances to win the seventh frame to close to 5-2 but a missed black proved costly and O'Sullivan - champion in 1995, 2005, 2007 and 2009 - capitalised, before going on to take the final frame of the session.
He continued where he left off in the final session, taking the first frame to make it 8-1 in the best-of-19 frame final.
It was O'Sullivan's turn to miss a black in the ninth frame, and Selby accepted the chance to record only his second frame of the final.
The 30-year-old from Leicester, who also won the tournament in 2008 and 2010, managed two further frames but could not prevent the inevitable.
"Ronnie started great. I had a few shots but he is fantastic at taking his chances," said Selby.
"I had a good chance in the fourth frame of the evening session but when he is in front he steamrollers you. The damage was done in the first session and you need to be on top."
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