20 Facts About Ricky Walden

Ricky Walden was born on 11 November 1982 and is an English professional snooker player from Chester.

Ricky Walden has since won the 2012 Wuxi Classic and the 2014 International Championship and has been inside the top 16 in the season-ending rankings on four occasions.

Ricky Walden was born in Chester but raised in Bagillt, North Wales, where he now lives once more, having spent some time living elsewhere in Flintshire.

Ricky Walden was one of the Young Players of Distinction in a scheme run in 2000, designed to help young players develop their playing and media skills, alongside Shaun Murphy, Stephen Maguire and Ali Carter.

Ricky Walden began his professional career by playing UK Tour in 1999, at the time the second-level professional tour.

Ricky Walden beat John Higgins twice that season, at the Grand Prix and UK Championship, and reached the quarter-final of the China Open.

Ricky Walden lost to eventual finalist Mark Selby in qualifying for the World Championship.

Ricky Walden crashed out in the China Open to Mark Selby and in the qualifying for the World Championship, to Mark Allen.

McLeod responded to the criticism by arguing that Ricky Walden was more responsible for the pace of the match.

Ricky Walden produced a maximum break during Event 10, the second 147 of the event.

Ricky Walden began the season by winning his second ranking event title at the Wuxi Classic.

Ricky Walden finished the season at a career high world number eight in the rankings.

Ricky Walden scored 39 points in the first frame, but nothing thereafter as O'Sullivan compiled 556 points without reply, setting a new professional record.

Ricky Walden's poor run of form earlier in the season coincided with Walden becoming a father for the first time in September 2015.

Ricky Walden explained that he had been making technical changes with his game and since ditching them and reverting to how he naturally plays the game his play had dramatically improved.

Ricky Walden suffered a bulging disc in his back in December 2016.

Ricky Walden was concerned about maintaining his ranking, and began entering more tournaments than in previous seasons.

Ricky Walden soon dropped out of the top 16, where he'd been a fixture since 2013.

At the UK Championship, Ricky Walden reached the last 16 after knocking out Rod Lawler, Ashely Carty, and Mark Williams before losing to Judd Trump.

Ricky Walden married Natalie Wilton in a short ceremony at New York City Hall on Thursday 22 May 2014.