RICKY WALDEN believes he is older and wiser as he bids to make it third time lucky in a major tournament semi-final.

The Cheshire potter has come up short twice at the last-four stage in the BBC ‘triple crown’ events – to Mark Allen in the UK Championship at York two years ago and to Barry Hawkins in the World Championship earlier this year.

But as he prepares to tackle defending champion Mark Selby in front of a packed out Barbican today (1pm and 7pm), Walden believes the experiences of those games has made him a different player.

“I won’t have a different approach to the game but it is just a natural progression,” he said. “A couple of years ago you are a different kind of person and a different kind of player so I will just be trying my best.

“Hopefully that experience I have had in the World Championship will stand me in good stead.”

Walden also believes completing the best-of-17 frame match over one day, rather than two sessions over different days, will also be an advantage for him. “For me, it is important to stick in my rhythm.”