Nobody could say that the draw opened up for Ricky Walden at the Shanghai Masters.To win the title, he beat Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
This was some performance and the manner in which he finished off with a century having let slip a good chance to win 10-7 proved his bottle under intense pressure.
He became the 45th winner of a world ranking event and the lowest ranked player at 35th ever to beat O'Sullivan in a ranking final.
The only real surprise for those who have seen him play at the qualifiers is that it took Walden as long as this to make the breakthrough.
But what a breakthrough. He is now 17th in the provisional rankings and virtually certain to be the wildcard pick for the Wembley Masters.
Ricky has never played at the Crucible. He has never been in the top 32. He earned less last season than O'Sullivan picked up for winning the Northern Ireland Trophy.
But he's well and truly arrived now and I for one believe he has the talent to stick around near the top for some years to come.
It bears out what I said about him almost two years ago.
Watch Ricky's winning break here.
12 comments:
All praise to Ricky for winning this. I've watched him play and win in the Belgian Open and I must say I was impressed. I also expect him to deliver his potential more regularly now...
and now with Ronnie?He has a good chance to win 3 titles in a row. He couldnt get a better chance. Will he ever do it????????????????
What's this Las Vegas fixation? He could go somewhere nice instead.
It was a great week for Ricky Walden, I was at the EIS at Sheffield in March for the World Championship Qualifiers where he narrowly lost to Mark Allen, the second time I have seen him play 'live' and although both times he lost I knew it wouldn't be long before he fulfilled his potential.
Hence, I have put him in my Eurosport Fantasy Snooker and like Ricky with the world ranking points - I too am benefiting with my points!!!
David, how are you doing on your Fantasy Snooker?
Ryan
I'm 287th
This with Walden in my team!
Did walden qualify for the Grand Prix?
He did, plays Ryan Day in round one.
Walden helped me jump 170 steps at
snookermanager:-)
Dave, first of all thank you for this blog; it is extremely interesting to read it. Can you answer a question re hero of the week Ricky Walden? He is definitely taller than most of players. What is the length of his cue? (I am 189 and standard cue seems to be short for me, that's why I'm asking)
Hello Boris
I'm not sure but I'll try and find out for you
Ricky has a longer cue specially made by John Parris. in fact he is using his new cue since June and loves it. I think there are only 1 or 2 players on the circuit who are actually taller than him. If my memory serves me correctly i think he is 6ft 4". I would like to ask Dave why he thinks Ricky is almost 'Certain' to be handed the masters wild card. How do they choose... last year Dom dale won the event but was not given the wildcardd.
Dominic would have got it had Marco Fu not won the Grand Prix
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