Walden's great run in China continued with victory in today's first semi-final. His week has seen him defeat players with a combined total of 67 ranking event titles as he aims for his first.
His win leaves Selby with three consecutive ranking events semi-finals to his name in China but as yet to make that final break through.
"I’m thrilled to bits to be in my first final but it was a real struggle out there this afternoon. I had a bit of luck today but then I’ve had plenty of bad luck over my career so I think it evens itself out, but I’m happy to have some today.
For Selby it was a case of what might have been. His 4-1 lead evapourated and the Jester from Leicester was unable to halt the slide.
"Obviously disappointed to lose from 4-1 up. Ricky didn’t perform up to that point but after that he played a lot better. I seem to do really well over here in China, I thought I had a good chance to go on and win the tournament here but it hasn’t happened.
"I can’t put my finger on it, I had plenty of chances but for whatever reason I couldn’t take them," Selby admitted.
Neither player was at their best, highlighted by the fact there was no break of over fifty in the pre interval session. Selby could have gone into the break 4-0 up but having taken the first two he was amongst the balls again in the third but missed a straight forward red. Walden responded with 41 before snookering the Leicester cueman and eventually claiming the frame.
The World No.4 aiming to reach his fourth ranking event final took the next with runs of 41 and 47.
After the break Selby knocked in a run of 50 to help secure the frame and a 4-1 lead. Walden reduced his arrears in frame six and continued his revival in the next two.
The Flintshire potter was in all sorts of trouble escaping from a snooker in frame seven, he did so at the ninth attempt but when Selby attempted to play safe Walden capitalised with a 58 to narrow the gap to one.
The 25-year-old then pulled level with an 86 in frame eigth, the first frame of the match to be completed in under twenty minutes. That became four on the spin as Walden moved to within a frame of his first ranking event final.
He looked set to do that in the following frame but missed a straight forward red when trying to open the pack. Selby couldn't take advantage and Walden knocked in a break of 47 to book his place in tomorrow's final where he'll face one of the top two players in the world.
"I’m not bothered who I face, it’s the old cliché. Stephen is a good friend of mine so it would be good to play him but Ronnie is the best in the world so I don’t mind. To be honest for three years in my head I’ve been expecting to come to events and win them, so it’s good to get to a final at last," said Walden who'll relax this evening by watching Avril Lavigne in concert.
