Defending champion Blown defied the odds to retain its KPMG Squash League title after defeating Saints in a nail-biting match-up 2-1 on Friday, April 4 at the Liguanea Club in Kingston.

The first match between Blown’s player Andrew Bicknell and Saints’ energetic but less experienced Leigh Dwyer ended in straight sets 3-0 to Bicknell 21-16, 21-16. 21-14.

Saints’ Jerazeno Bell and Blown’s captain Jake Mahfood took to the court in the second match with the odds against Mahfood based on Bell’s record in the league of not losing any match since it began in late February.

Mahfood won 3-2 coming from two sets down after Bell won the first two sets 13-21, 15-21, 21-17, 21-12, 21-19.

The third and final match between Saints’ captain Mario O’Connor and Blown’s Fraser McConnell went to O’Connor in straight sets 21-12, 21-14, 21-11.

“We’re elated because I remember the first interview at the beginning of the tournament you asked if we could do a repeat and we weren’t sure and as we went through we got more and more confident and we’re very happy we were able to do it,” said Mahfood, who promised to come back for a three-peat in 2026.

“It would be very tough. We have a lot of teams that are coming to take the championship next year and with the handicap system it really makes it difficult to keep on winning but I think that our team is gonna do our best to try and do a three-peat so we will be in the KPMG league next year.”

O’Connor was left to rue his team’s chance in the final but promised to come back harder next year.

“I think we could have brought it home but in that second match, we just lost focus. Our player did his best, went up two love, was trying to complete it but was not able to complete and Jake being like a tough, a very tough player, very strong-minded, very focused and Jake has proven it time and time again.

“He’s a really good player and I admire that about Jake and so he stuck in and managed to claw back from 0-2 down to beat our guy three-two and I think that was a deciding match. Having lost that one then you know my match wouldn’t have really counted since I went third. Unfortunately to the first match didn’t go how we expected it but you know, we were still trying to get it in the end, but it just didn’t work out this time, so we’ll try again next year.”

Tournament director Nathlee Boreland said that the league was one of the most sought-after events on the Jamaica Squash Association’s calendar (JSA).

“This league, it’s one of the JSA’s premier tournaments, local tournaments, and all players look forward to this tournament every year with bated breath. We’ve got 16 entries, 16 teams, and each team is made up of four persons. So you’re looking at 60-odd persons playing squash in one league and that’s just phenomenal, getting 60-odd persons playing squash at any one time,” said Boreland

Damion Reid, partner at title sponsor KPMG said after 25 years and looking back at how this league started thought it was a good investment that as a firm they have made into this squash league.

“We have seen many of the players who have participated in this league would have gone on to do greater things and as a firm, we continue to sponsor his league going forward,” said Reid

Reid also acknowledged retired partner Patrick Chin, who was instrumental when the league started and was in attendance at the final. Swift Swingers defeated JDF in straight sets 3-0 to copped the third place, while Jerazeno Bell took home the MVP award.