Temwa Chileshe wins Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Open 2024

Temwa Chileshe defeated fellow New Zealander Anthony Lepper 11-6 11-8 8-11 7-11 11-7 to win the 2024 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Squash Open and end three years of disappointment at one of New Zealand’s most prestigious squash championships.

The top seed, who had fallen short in the past three finals of the event, triumphed on his fourth attempt to secure his eighth Professional Squash Association (PSA) title.

Temwa Chileshe reached the final without dropping a game following victories over Oliver Dunbar, Kijan Sultana and Mason Smales, however his win in the eagerly anticipated final was hard earned. Having initially taken a commanding lead, winning the first two games over Anthony Lepper, the eventual champion was forced to resist a strong comeback from the hometown favourite who fought valiantly to take the match into deciding fifth game.

However, Temwa Chileshe regained his composure to clinch the final game and finally lift the trophy that had eluded him in his past three attempts.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Squash Open 2024, North Shore Squash Club, Auckland, New Zealand
Final:
[1] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [2] Anthony Lepper (NZL) 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7

Semi-Finals:
[1] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [4] Mason Smales (NZL) 11-4, 11-6, 11-9
[2] Anthony Lepper (NZL) bt [9/16] Connor Hayes (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9

Quarter-Finals:
[1] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [5] Kijan Sultana (MLT) 11-8, 11-8, 12-10
[4] Mason Smales (NZL) bt [7] Matt Gregory (ENG) 13-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9
[9/16] Connor Hayes (AUS) bt Sion Wiggin (NZL) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
[2] Anthony Lepper (NZL) bt [9/16] Cameron Darton (AUS) 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 11-2

2nd Round:
[1] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [9/16] Oliver Dunbar (NZL) 11-5, 13-11, 11-5
[5] Kijan Sultana (MLT) bt Joe Williams (NZL) 11-9, 12-14, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6
[7] Matt Gregory (ENG) bt [9/16] Lachlan Coxsedge (AUS) 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
[4] Mason Smales (NZL) bt [9/16] Glenn Templeton (NZL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
[9/16] Connor Hayes (AUS) bt [3] William Donnelly (NZL) 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9
Sion Wiggin (NZL) bt [8] Anson Wong (HKG) 11-13, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
[9/16] Cameron Darton (AUS) bt [6] Tino Mackay Palacios (SCO) 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5
[2] Anthony Lepper (NZL) bt [9/16] Ji Donghyun (KOR) 4-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3

1st Round:
[1] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bye
[9/16] Oliver Dunbar (NZL) bye
Joe Williams (NZL) bt [9/16] Flynn Venmore (NZL) 11-9, 11-1, 11-6
[5] Kijan Sultana (MLT) bye
[7] Matt Gregory (ENG) bye
[9/16] Lachlan Coxsedge (AUS) bt Freddie Jameson (NZL) 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9
[9/16] Glenn Templeton (NZL) bt Shane Buckle (NZL) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
[4] Mason Smales (NZL) bye
[3] William Donnelly (NZL) bye
[9/16] Connor Hayes (AUS) bt Varun Johnny (IND) 11-0, 11-1, 11-1
Sion Wiggin (NZL) bt [9/16] Allan Bailey (NZL) 12-10, 11-8, 15-13
[8] Anson Wong (HKG) bye
[6] Tino Mackay Palacios (SCO) bye
[9/16] Cameron Darton (AUS) bye
[9/16] Ji Donghyun (KOR) bt George Thomas (NZ) (NZL) 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8
[2] Anthony Lepper (NZL) bye