Ricky Walden

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Ricky Walden
Born	November 11, 1982 (1982-11-11) (age 25)
Nationality	English
Professional	2000–
Highest ranking	#35
2008/09 ranking	#35
Career winnings	£97,960
Highest break	141 - UK Tour 2000
Best ranking finish	Quarter-finals - China Open 2005

Ricky Walden is a snooker professional, born in England but living in Flintshire, Wales. He was one of the Young Players of Distinction in a scheme ran in 2000, designed to help young players develop their playing and media skills, alongside Shaun Murphy, Stephen Maguire and Allister Carter. In 2001 he was world under-21 champion.

He started the 2004/2005 season ranked at #78 in the world, but climbed 30 places that year. He reached the quarter-finals of the China Open, winning six matches before facing Steve Davis in the last 16. Steve was forced to pull out after suffering headaches due to hitting his head on a metal door frame earlier that day.^[1] He also beat John Higgins twice that season, and reached the last 16 of the UK Championship.

He has subsequently remained in the top 48. In 2005/2006 his best run was to the last 16 in China, which he achieved by beating Stephen Maguire. In 2006/2007 he had 2 last-32 showings including the UK Championship, where he lead Ronnie O'Sullivan and only lost 9-8 after a kick while well-placed at 8-7 up. He reached #36 for the 2007/2008 season. In 2007/2008 he reached the last 16 of the Grand Prix, beating John Parrott in qualifying and four top-32 players in the main round-robin stage. Ricky has recently crashed out in the China Open and then lostin qualifing of the World Championship. Ricky is currently 36th in the world.

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