Harrogate Open: Withington Claims Second Title Of Year

England’s Finnlay Withington secured his second title of the year after beating compatriot Perry Malik in the final of the Harrogate Squash Open.

The young Englishman came into the Challenger 3 level competition as the No.4 seed, and he started his week with a confident victory against compatriot Josh Rowley. Withington won in straight games 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 to move through to the last eight.

He came up against Scotland’s Alasdair Prott, the No.6 seed, in the quarter finals at the Harrogate Sports & Fitness Centre, and won in four games. The Englishman then took down No.2 seed Temwa Chileshe in the last four, coming from two games down. The Kiwi won held a commanding two game lead, but Withington fought back, taking a crucial third game 11-9, before going on to win both the fourth and fifth games to secure the win.

In the final, the 18-year-old came up against fellow Englishman Perry Malik, the tournament’s No.3 seed. The pair were level after two games, but from there, Withington dropped just ten more points, securing his second Tour title in as many months.

Results: Harrogate Squash Open
Final
[4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [3] Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3

Semi-Finals
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) bt [1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 3-2: 11-13, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8

Quarter Finals
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt [5] Lewis Doughty (ENG) 3-2: 3-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-2, 12-10
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) bt [8] Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 13-11, 11-7
[4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [6] Alasdair Prost (SCO) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6
[2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [7] Joel Arscott (NZL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-8

First Round
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Pablo Quintana Estevez (ESP) 3-1: 8-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-6
[5] Lewis Doughty (ENG) bt Aaron Allpress (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-7
[8] Elijah Thomas (NZL) bt Mason Smales (NZL) 3-1: 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-2
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) bt Vinicius Leao Rodrigues (BRA) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9
[4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt Josh Rowley (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
[6] Alasdair Prott (SCO) bt Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-7
[7] Joel Arscott (NZL) bt Rob Thirst (ENG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-2
[2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt Laouenan Loaec (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-8