Ricky Walden is aiming to get 2015 off to the best possible start, but knows challenges in snooker don’t come much tougher than the one he faces.

Chester-born Walden takes to the baize in the first round of the Dafabet Masters on Tuesday at London’s Alexandra Palace where he faces world number one and recently crowned UK champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Walden, 32, is going into 2015 on a high after securing his third ranking title triumph of his career back in November when he lifted the International Championship in China.

But the world number nine knows that he will have to be on the top of his game to go toe-to-toe with five-time world champion and last year’s winner, O’Sullivan.

“Facing Ronnie is the toughest start you can have as a snooker player,” said Walden.

“He won it (the Masters) last year and he barely missed a ball. When he is on his game he can be unplayable.

“We’ve met in the past and had some good battles but I know that I’ve got to be totally on my own game in order to give myself a chance of progressing.”

Walden ended his wait to add to add to his 2008 Shanghai Masters and 2012 Wuxi Classic titles when he defeated Mark Allen at November’s International Championships, and he is now aiming to add another trophy to his collection in 2015.

“I had a good end to 2014 with the win in China,” said Walden, who has now fully recovered from a shoulder injury that hampered his progress in the UK Championships last month.

“It had been a while since my last title so it was really nice to get it on the board and it gives me a platform to build on going into 2015.

“I know I’ve got to work hard for each tournament. The main aim for me in the next 12 months is to win another tournament and make it two in the space of a year.  That would be a real bonus.

“I feel like I am making some real progress. I had a shoulder injury during the UK Championships which held me back but I’m fit and ready to go again now and looking forward to getting back to it after the Christmas break.”

The Dafabet Masters will be shown live on the BBC, with the competition beginning on Sunday.