Bermuda Reports:
Ross Triffitt & Howard Harding report
BERMUDA BUZZING ...

More than 140 volunteers have been working around the clock to complete final preparations on the 600-seat auditorium housing the specially imported all-glass court.

A wildly enthusiastic packed house is expected for the opening match of the first evening between world No1 Thierry Lincou, of France, and local wild-card favourite, Nicholas Kyme, currently ranked 68 in the world. Kyme, the national champion, will surely have a baptism of fire against the world champion - but if he falls in round one, local fans will quickly change their allegiance to Bermuda resident David Palmer, the Australian world No2 who is determined to perform well in front of his adopted home crowd.

The auditorium is replete with high quality technology offering web-streaming of matches via the internet on the PSA's website www.PSALIVE.tv - while title sponsors Virtual Spectator are testing their own cutting edge technology on site. Most matches are scheduled between 12 noon and 2.30pm Bermuda time (one hour ahead of EST, four behind the UK), and from 6pm to 8.30pm daily.

Predicting a winner of this year's $120,000 PSA Masters, the second Super Series event of the year, is a risky business - with any one of the top 10 capable of taking the title. But Lincou has to be the favourite by a whisker, with superfit Australian Anthony Ricketts; along with last year's winner of the Bermuda Open 2004, Englishman Lee Beachill; brilliant Canadian Jonathon Power; and Bermuda-based David Palmer all strong contenders for the top spot.
"Although Bermuda's total population is less than 60,000, the Island is buzzing with excitement at the prospect of seeing the world's finest players from five continents battling it out for the prestigious Masters Championship.

"The stage is now set for the biggest and best sporting event ever held in Bermuda. Our team of volunteers has done a superb job preparing the venue from scratch and all the players have arrived from all corners of the globe.

"Even the weather seems to be cooperating as the forecast for this week is clear and sunny. We look forward to a superb week of squash."

Ross Triffitt
Tournament Director
"Bermuda has definitely got that wow factor and all the players on tour cannot wait to get back there. Last year's event was very impressive all round – a totally unique experience.

"I'm determined to do well, particularly as I went out early last year and didn't feel like I'd done myself justice"

James Willstrop		 "The tournament has a special atmosphere and I really want to do well. Coming from an island myself I feel very comfortable in Bermuda.

"I was very upset with my performance there last year and this time round I'm prepared and really up for the challenge."

Thierry Lincou		 "Bermuda is an immensely enjoyable place and I was not at all surprised they were awarded the Masters contract because they had already proved they could run a top-class tournament.

"Things went very well for me last year obviously, but I know repeating the feat is going to be an enormously difficult task."

Lee Beachill

"What Bermuda has achieved in such a short space of time is truly remarkable.

"They are right up there with the big boys now and long may it continue."

Robert Edwards

Quotes from the Royal Gazette