 Walden stunned Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Shanghai Masters in November |
Ricky Walden has been handed a wildcard for January's Masters, completing the line-up for the Wembley event. Snooker's top invitation tournament is reserved for the world's top 16, but Walden and Judd Trump, who qualified for the event, will also be on show. "I'm delighted to get the wildcard," said 26-year-old Walden. "I always thought I'd have to get into the top 16 before I played in the Masters, so to get in now is fantastic as it's a massive tournament." Walden secured his place after winning his first ranking title at the Shanghai Masters in October. He beat world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-8 in the final and his success in the Far East has seen his provisional ranking jump to 18th.  | 606: DEBATE |
"This makes winning the tournament in Shanghai even more special," he added. "I've never played at the Crucible or Wembley and I want to be on the big stage with the top players and showing people what I can do." Walden will make his debut in the tournament against Mark King on 11 January, while Trump, the world number 41 who beat Mark Joyce in the qualifying final in November, faces Mark Allen a day later. The Wembley Masters takes place from 11-18 January 2009, with full coverage on BBC Television, the Red Button and the BBC Sport website.
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