The wonderful sportsman Ricky Walden is a professional snooker player, who won his first ranking title at the Shanghai Masters in 2008. He is a former Top 6 player, and has also won the 2012 Wuxi Classic, and the 2014 International Championship.

Born in Chester, and raised in North Wales, Walden started playing snooker at a young age and 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. The following year he won the 2001 World Under 21 Championship.

Walden began his professional career in 1999 by playing in the UK Tour, and quickly built up a reputation as a formidable player on the baize, rising through the rankings and performing well at tournaments and events.In 2008 he won the Shanghai Masters and later that same year claimed victory at the Six-red Snooker International. In 2009 he won the General Cup, and three years later claimed the Wuxi Classic. In 2014 he won the International Championship, and the following year saw him enter the Top 6 of the World rankings.