Old rivalries will be relived when six former world No 1 players return to the court for the Randall & Quilter Legends of Squash Bermuda event.

Part of the Legends of Squash tour, the event features Peter Nicol, one of the games all-time greats; Jonathon Power, North America’s best-ever player; top Frenchman Thierry Lincou, David Palmer, a four-times British Open winner; Lee Beachill, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and John White, who was known as one of the hardest hitters of the ball.

Simon Parke, a former world No 3, and Nick Kyme, a two-times Bermuda national champion, will also be in action tonight when the tournament gets under way at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association in Devonshire at 6pm.

Nicol, who spent 60 months as the world No 1, said that although “the legends” had retired there would be plenty of competitive edge on display for the sellout crowd.

“It will be fun competitive,” said Scotsman Nicol, who now coaches in New York. “The thing we understand in the Legends Tour is that you’re not seeing the best players in the world any more.

“You’re not seeing a Nick Matthew or a Ramy Ashour. This is about competing at the highest possible level that we can and showing off the skills that we still have.

“We will also be entertaining, enjoying and integrating with everyone in the community, from the coaching clinics during the day to the individual coaching lessons.

“We have all moved into other fields now and have a lot more to offer these days than just the squash. But when I get on the court will I be trying to win? Of course I will and the other guys will be the same.”

White, who defeated Nicol in an exhibition match on the Island last summer, said Lincou, the youngest of the former top players, and Palmer, a former Bermuda resident, would be the ones to watch.

“Thierry Lincou is probably the youngest of the lot and then there’s David Palmer who used to be based here,” said White, the head coach at the Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania. “They are probably the two youngest and are still very active. You always want to do your best against those guys and put them down if you can.”

The Australian, who finished fifth at the Legends of Squash tour event in Aberdeen last month, added: “We’re a little bit older and there’s a bit more wear and tear.

“You want it to be an exhibition but all of sudden you get the old memories flooding back of so-and-so beating you, so you never lose that competitive edge.”

In tonight’s group one matches, White will take on Kyme while Beachill faces Parke. In group two, Power will play Palmer and Nicol will meet Lincou.