Wakefield Squash Club hosts thrilling Inaugural MatchPoint Wakefield Open
Wakefield Squash Club hosted its inaugural MatchPoint Wakefield Open, welcoming established athletes, rising stars and members of the wider squash community from across the North of England for a full day of high-quality competition.
A total of 52 players representing 14 clubs competed including several of the region’s leading female players, including Asia Harris (World Ranking number 89), Brooke Herring (World Ranking number 141) and Yorkshire County Champion Jess Dixon.
Designed to be accessible, competitive and enjoyable, the one-day Open welcomed players of all ages, genders and abilities. Competitors were grouped into four categories based on Squash Levels rankings, from 0 up to 5,000+, ensuring fair and competitive matches for all abilities.
The headline A Event produced outstanding drama from the outset, with Pontefract’s Daniel Siddall ultimately claiming the inaugural Wakefield Open title.
Harris edged through a tight first-round contest to reach the semi-finals, while home favourite Eddy McGuire defied the seedings to secure a place in the last four. McGuire’s impressive run was ended by top seed Hayden Tetley, who advanced to the final with a composed 2-0 victory.
In the other semi-final, Siddall and Harris produced one of the toughest matches of the tournament, battling point-for-point before Siddall edged the decider 11-8 to book his place in the final.
The final proved a showcase of skill and determination. Siddall took an early 8-1 lead in the opening game through sharp short play and consistent length hitting. Tetley responded superbly, saving multiple game balls to level at 10-10, before Siddall converted his seventh opportunity to take the game 13-11.
Game two was equally tense. Tetley stormed into a 9-4 advantage, only for Siddall to launch a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive points to earn match point. After both players exchanged further championship opportunities, Siddall sealed a dramatic 14-12 victory with a precise backhand drop to lift the Wakefield Open trophy.
The tournament also delivered strong competition across the other categories, with particularly strong performances from players representing Pontefract, Sheffield and Halifax.
A Event: Danny Siddall, representing Pontefract, beat Abbeydale’s Hayden Tetley 13-11, 14-12 to receive the coveted Wakefield Open title
A Plate: Adam Smith, competing out of Pontefract, secured the title with a hard-fought 11-8, 9-11, 11-8 victory over Brooke Herring, who represents Hallamshire
B Event: Colin Langley of Sedgefield, Durham, staffed a stunning comeback to defeat Abbeydale’s Jason Chidwick 2-11, 14-12, 12-10
B Plate: Pontefract’s Tom Mynett claimed an 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 victory over Abbeydale’s Matt Burkinshaw
C Event: Josh Mills, representing Abbeydale, edged Wakefield’s Louis Hargreaves 11-6, 9-11, 12-10 in a tightly contested final
C Plate: Pontefract’s Tom Dodd delivered a composed 11-8, 11-9 win against Halifax’s Jack Murgatroyd
D Event:Max Hall of Beverley overcame University of Sheffield’s Benjamin Lloyd 11-8, 13-11
D Plate: Queens, Halifax’s Charlie Anderson battled an impressive 11-9, 9-11, 14-12 win over University of Sheffield’s Rohan Rawat
MatchPoint Wakefield Open marked an exciting milestone for both the club and the wider MatchPoint tour. Founded by Cai Younger, MatchPoint was created with the aim of growing competitive opportunities and strengthen the squash community across the UK. The Wakefield Open was the fifth MatchPoint event hosted in Yorkshire, the first at Wakefield Squash Club, and the 17th club in England to host a one-day graded MatchPoint tournament.
Cai Younger, Founder of MatchPoint, said: “The MatchPoint Wakefield Open was a fantastic occasion and a real testament to the strength and depth of squash across the region. From the first matches of the morning through to a thrilling A Event final, the standard of play and competitive spirit on display across every division was exceptional.
“What was particularly pleasing was seeing players of all ages and abilities competing side by side in such a positive and supportive environment – which is exactly what MatchPoint is all about. The atmosphere throughout the day was brilliant, both on court and among spectators.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Wakefield Squash Club for hosting and to all the players who made the event a huge success. Following the response to this inaugural tournament, we’re very much looking forward to returning to Wakefield in the future and building this into a regular fixture on the MatchPoint calendar.”
Wakefield Squash Club, part of Wakefield Sports & Social Club, is a first-class squash facility providing a welcoming space where people can come together to meet, play and connect through the sport of squash. For more information, please visit: https://www.wakefieldsquashclub.com/