Owain Taylor win PSA Berkhamsted Open

UNSQUASHABLE player Owain Taylor defeated Osborne-Wylde of England 11-9 8-11 4-11 11-4 13-11 in a thrilling 78-minutes to win the 2024 Berkhamsted Squash Open and claim his second and biggest career Professional Squash Association (PSA) title.

The 2nd seeded Welshman overcame a spirited and skilful performance from his English rival who was making his second successive appearance in a PSA final.

The final, staged at the Berkhamsted Lawn Tennis & Squash Rackets Club, began with two closely contested games with Owain Taylor edged the first 11-9, while his English opponent responded by taking the second 11-8.

Neither player was able to consistently maintain the intensity of the first two games, with Sam Osborne-Wylde taking the third game 11-4, only for Owain Taylor to mirror that performance in the fourth, winning 11-4 to force a decisive fifth game.

The final game proved to be a nail-biting affair, extending to a tiebreak before Owain Taylor ultimately triumphed, claiming the title by winning the game 13-11 after saving a match ball at 10-9.

The eventual champion showed impressive form throughout the tournament, beating Heston Malik of England 11-4 11-5 11-9 in the 1st round and Aaron Allpress of Ireland 11-7 11-5 11-1 in the quarter-finals, before overcoming fourth seed Jared Carter of England 10-12 11-3 11-2 5-11 11-5 in a 59-minute semi-final.

Linksap Berkhamsted Open 2024, Berkhamsted LT & SRC, Berkhamsted, England
Final:
[2] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 11-4, 13-11 (78m)

Semi-Finals:
Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [1] Perry Malik (ENG) 11-6, 13-11, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt [4] Jared Carter (ENG) 10-12, 11-3, 11-2, 5-11, 11-5 (59m)

Quarter-Finals:
[1] Perry Malik (ENG) bt [6] Noah Meredith (ENG) 10-12, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4 (57m)
Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [5] Miles Jenkins (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (45m)
[4] Jared Carter (ENG) bt [8] Anthony Rogal (ENG) 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5 (54m)
[2] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt [7] Aaron Allpress (IRL) 11-7, 11-5, 11-1 (32m)

1st Round:
[1] Perry Malik (ENG) bt AbdAllah Eissa (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (33m)
[6] Noah Meredith (ENG) bt [WC] Hasnaat Farooqi (ENG) 11-3, 11-1, 11-3 (20m)
[5] Miles Jenkins (ENG) bt Yusuf Sheikh (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-0 (31m)
Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [3] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) 15-13, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)
[4] Jared Carter (ENG) bt Paul Broadberry (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (33m)
[8] Anthony Rogal (ENG) bt Rory Richmond (SCO) 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (29m)
[7] Aaron Allpress (IRL) bt Amaad Fareed (PAK) 14-12, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)
[2] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt Heston Malik (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (36m)