WHILE Bermuda professional squash player Nick Kyme just arrived back in Bermuda this week following a long trip from the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, he is not alone in having to get back into top gear quickly for the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters starting on Sunday.

In fact many of the players in the 32-man draw were also forced to make the trip from Down Under to compete in the Bermuda Masters.

"Many of the guys who will be playing in the Bermuda Masters also competed at the Commonwealth Games," said Ross Triffitt, the tournament director.

In fact the Games Down Under forced Triffitt to move the dates for the tournament. "The Commonwealth Games had a big impact on our dates. Originally we would have pushed our dates back into April a little to give a bit more space between the Bermuda Masters and the Commonwealth Games but after looking at the Bermuda Sports Tourism schedule we realised that the (XL Bermuda Open) tennis is on and the (20-20 World Classic) cricket is also on in April. So these players who competed at the Commonwealth Games are making quite a trek from around the world to get here. A lot of them are flying in here different ways and one player missed his connection in LA and is coming a day later."

Triffitt said the players love competing for their country at the Commonwealth Games. "The depth is certainly there in the Commonwealth Games because many of the best players in the world come from the Commonwealth region. They take it very seriously. Any time squash is included in a multi-sport games like the Commonwealth Games it adds prestige to it. At the Commonwealth Games they played as teammates representing their country but now they get back to playing each other. Now it is all about money and world ranking points."

However two players will not be making it to the Bermuda Masters. "Two Pakistani players were not able to secure Bermuda visas in time. They had a UK and US visas but needed a Bermuda visa and despite the Department of Immigration here doing everything in their power to assist them the guys in all honestly have been a little slack (in getting their papers in) and the Professional Squash Association have withdrawn them from the event," said Triffitt adding that two players from England and Egypt have filled their spots.

A dozen of those who played at the Commonwealth Games will be involved in the $125,000 Bermuda Masters including gold medal singles winner Peter Nicol from England. He beat Australian David Palmer, who is also a resident of Bermuda, in the final in Melbourne.

Palmer, who is ranked number four in the world, takes on Kyme (ranked 69 in the world) in what will be an emotional match for the Bermudian on Monday evening at the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre at the Bermuda High School.

Last year the centre was packed with Bermudian fans cheering on Kyme and no doubt the same will happen on Monday evening.

In the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games Lee Beachill from England beat fellow countryman Nick Matthew and both will be competing in the Bermuda Masters.

Other players here for the Bermuda Masters who also competed at the Commonwealth Games are Scotland's John White, England's James Willstrop, Canada's Graham Ryding, Australia's Stuart Boswell, Wales' Alex Gough, Australia's Dan Jenson, England's Lee Beachill and Australia's Anthony Ricketts.

The tournament starts on Sunday and the top seed is in action in the first match. Amr Shabana from Egypt will take on England's Joey Barrington who is ranked world number 27.

Triffitt said: "Shabana is ranked number two in the world and is the current World Open champion. I imagine he will be ranked number one when the April rankings come out (on Saturday). Right now he looks to be in great form." It is no surprise that Shabana is the top ranked player. "They are mad for squash in Egypt ? the game has a very strong history in Egypt and is in fact their national sport," said Triffitt.

The final will be staged on Saturday, April 8 starting at 7.30 p.m.

The Bermuda Masters, which is presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance, will also have the PartnerRe Girl's Day which has drawn the world's two best women players.

Nicol David of Malaysia ? the current World Open champion and ranked number one in the world will, along with Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands who won the World Open title in 2004 and is currently ranked number two, put on a special exhibition match on the final day of the championships.

Local girls with an interest in squash will be invited to watch the exhibition match for free, followed by a coaching clinic during which they can ask the two women players about training and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. This exhibition match will be the culmination of Children's Health Week being organised simultaneously with the Bermuda Masters. Triffitt said: "Women's squash is coming on in leaps and bounds around the world, and we are delighted to have Nicol and Vanessa playing an exhibition match right here in Bermuda."

PartnerRE is also awarding a squash scholarship to a deserving girl in the Junior squash programme. This one-year scholarship includes everything needed to play squash, from free junior membership of the squash club and enrollment in the junior squash programme, to regular weekly coaching sessions, a racket, shoes and clothing.

Jaime Masters, chairperson of PartnerRe's Charitable Donations Committee said: "PartnerRe is proud to sponsor the Girl's Day Event. We think this is a great opportunity for us to support the efforts of the Junior Squash Programme in expanding their membership. By giving these young girls the opportunity to be coached by world-class female players, PartnerRe is confident that the event will not only enrich their experience of the sport but will also encourage long-term participation in this very healthy activity."

Children's Health Week will also provide schoolchildren free courtside seats to watch the action during the lunch-time sessions on the first three days of the tournament. This has been made possible by the generous support of ACE, Bank of Butterfield, and Montpelier Re, in addition to PartnerRe. Free tickets for the Children's Health Week sessions are being distributed through many of the island's youth groups, and are available both to children and their chaperones. Anyone interested in obtaining tickets, either on behalf of a youth group or individual children can contact BSRA Club Manager, Dave Elliott, at Tel 292-6881, or by e-mail at daveebermudasquash.com