Wakefield Squash Club Hosts Thrilling Inaugural MatchPoint Wakefield Open

Ever been to a local sports club when there’s a big event on? The atmosphere is just electric. That was exactly the scene at the Wakefield Squash Club on Saturday 28th February, when it hosted its very first MatchPoint Wakefield Open. Forget a quiet knockabout, this was a full-day squash extravaganza, drawing in everyone from seasoned pros to up-and-coming stars from all over the North of England. The whole place was buzzing with high-stakes competition and a brilliant community vibe. It was a proper showcase for the sport in Yorkshire, bringing together players for a day of thrilling matches and serious talent. This kind of event is exactly what makes local sport so special, and it was a landmark day for squash in Wakefield.

A proper Yorkshire showdown

You know a tournament is a big deal when it pulls in talent from all corners. A whopping 52 players from 14 different clubs turned up to compete. There were players from the home club in Wakefield, of course, but also strong contingents from renowned clubs in Pontefract, Sheffield, and Halifax. It wasn’t just about local rivalries, though. The competition was fierce across the board. The event was especially exciting because it featured some of the region's leading female players, making for some top-tier matches. Big names like Asia Harris, who is ranked 89th in the world, and Brooke Herring, ranked 141st, were there to show everyone how it’s done. Add in Yorkshire County Champion Jess Dixon, and you had a seriously impressive line-up of talent battling it out on the courts.

Making the competition fair for everyone

So, how do you make a tournament work with pros and amateurs playing in the same event? The organisers had a clever system. The whole MatchPoint Wakefield Open was designed to be competitive and fun for players of all abilities. Think of it like a video game that puts you in matches with people at your skill level. They used a ranking system called SquashLevels to sort everyone into four different categories, or groups. This meant that whether a player's ranking was just starting out or over 5,000, they were guaranteed to play matches against someone who would give them a real game. It’s a brilliant way to do it because it means every single match matters, and everyone from any of the clubs has a fair chance at victory in their category. It avoids those one-sided games and keeps the competition exciting from the first serve to the final point. This inclusive approach is a massive part of what made the squash event such a success.

The nail-biting A event final

The main event, the 'A Event', was where the top players battled for the coveted title, and it delivered some serious drama. Right from the start, the matches were intense. Home favourite Eddy McGuire had a fantastic run, beating players ranked higher than him to make it to the semi-finals. But the final showdown came down to two titans: top seed Hayden Tetley and Pontefract’s own Daniel Siddall. Their journey to the final was tough, with Siddall having to get past Asia Harris in a nail-biter of a semi-final.

The final itself was a proper rollercoaster. In the first game, Daniel Siddall shot into a massive 8-1 lead. It looked like it was all over. But Hayden Tetley wasn't giving up. He fought back incredibly, saving seven game balls to level it at 10-10. The tension was massive, but Siddall eventually clinched it 13-11. The second game was just as dramatic. This time, Tetley stormed ahead 9-4. It seemed certain he’d level the match. But then, in a stunning turnaround, Siddall clawed his way back, winning six points in a row to earn himself a match point. After a few more tense rallies, Daniel Siddall sealed the deal 14-12 with a perfect backhand drop shot to claim the victory and the inaugural MatchPoint Wakefield Open title. What a final!

And the winners are…

While the A Event final had everyone on the edge of their seats, there was amazing competition happening across all the other categories too. Players from Pontefract, Sheffield, and Halifax clubs had a particularly strong showing, taking home several titles. It was great to see so many different players celebrating a victory. Here’s a rundown of who won what in the tournament:

• A Event: Danny Siddall (Pontefract) beat Hayden Tetley (Abbeydale) 13-11, 14-12.

• A Plate: Adam Smith (Pontefract) secured a hard-fought 11-8, 9-11, 11-8 victory over Brooke Herring (Hallamshire).

• B Event: Colin Langley (Sedgefield) pulled off an amazing comeback to defeat Jason Chidwick (Abbeydale) 2-11, 14-12, 12-10.

• B Plate: Tom Mynett (Pontefract) claimed an 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 victory over Matt Burkinshaw (Abbeydale).

• C Event: Josh Mills (Abbeydale) just edged out Wakefield’s own Louis Hargreaves 11-6, 9-11, 12-10 in a super close final.

• C Plate: Tom Dodd (Pontefract) won 11-8, 11-9 against Jack Murgatroyd from Halifax.

• D Event: Max Hall (Beverley) overcame Benjamin Lloyd (University of Sheffield) 11-8, 13-11.

• D Plate: Charlie Anderson (Queens, Halifax) battled to an impressive 11-9, 9-11, 14-12 win over Rohan Rawat (University of Sheffield).

What's MatchPoint all about anyway?

The MatchPoint Wakefield Open wasn't just a one-off. It's part of a bigger picture. The whole MatchPoint tour was founded by a bloke named Cai Younger with a really simple, but brilliant, idea: to create more opportunities for competitive squash and bring the community together. It's all about making the sport more accessible and building a network of players across the UK. This Wakefield tournament was the fifth MatchPoint event to be held here in Yorkshire, which shows how popular the tour is becoming in the region. It also made Wakefield Squash Club the 17th club in England to host one of these fantastic one-day tournaments.

A word from the organiser

The founder of MatchPoint, Cai Younger, was absolutely thrilled with how the day went. He explained what the event means for the local squash scene.

“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.”

It sounds like this is just the beginning for the MatchPoint Wakefield Open, which is fantastic news for squash players and fans in the area.