IT'S not often you get a Bermudian taking on the best player in the world." So said Ross Triffitt, the tournament director of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters which starts next week.

But on Monday evening that is exactly what will happen when Bermuda's Nick Kyme takes on the world number one Thierry Lincou from France at the Bermuda High School's gym which is expected to be packed to the rafters.

Kyme, who was granted a wild card for the tournament and is presently ranked number 70 in the world, was taken aback last year at the Bermuda Open when he took to the court against former world number one Peter Nicol from England.

Tournament chairman Kim Carter said: "When he came out some people started stamping their feet and soon everyone was standing up and all stamping their feet. There was a massive roar. Of course it made Nick very nervous ? I think he was quite taken aback ? but it was a nice moment, a real patriotic moment. We are hoping that the same thing will happen this year. It is a good opportunity for people to come out and cheer for Bermuda ? after all you do not often get the chance to cheer for your country especially when you have a Bermudian up against a world champion."

Carter added: "Nick knew he would get good support but I don't think he realised just how much support the Bermuda fans would give him." Although Kyme lost to Nicol he gained many admirers with his plucky play. Carter said: "There were lots of flag waving ? everyone was getting into it ? it was quite something to see."

Triffitt added: "All the players were amazed to see a crowd and a country get behind a player like Nick. They love coming to Bermuda and playing here because the crowd is pretty knowledgeable about the sport and they get behind the players."

And on Monday Kyme is going to need all that support and more ? as well as a decent slice of luck if he is to get past Lincou in the match which starts at 6.00 p.m.

If he does somehow manage to pull off the unbelievable and get past Lincou, then he will be up against the seemingly impossible. Carter said: "It is amazing the field we have for the Bermuda Masters. We have the world champion and four former world champions and six former number ones. If Nick does beat Lincou he will probably face former world champion Amr Shabana from Egypt and if he manages to get past him he will probably come up against Canada's Jonathan Power who is also a former world champion. And if he gets past him Nick would have to face Australia's David Palmer who is a former world number one and then he would be in the final. That is the depth of the field we have here. It is amazing when you really think about it."

Realistically, local fans will be hoping that Kyme puts up a good fight in his opening match against Lincou.

And to that end Kyme, who beat fellow Bermudian James Stout earlier this year for the chance to grab the wild card spot at the Masters, has been training in Wales.

Triffitt said: "Nick has been over there training with one of the Welsh players, Gavin Jones, who is a similar age. And they are being trained by the Welsh national coach, an Australian named Chris Robertson who is a former world junior champion. He is certainly knowledgeable and is doing a great job with the Welsh team so it is a good opportunity for Nick ? he has access to a good number of players to train with."

The Bermuda Masters involves the top 31 players in the world as well as favourite local son Kyme. The players started arriving in Bermuda on Wednesday and the first matches start on Monday at noon at both the BHS gym and the courts at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association headquarters in Devonshire.

The final will be staged on Saturday night at 7.00 p.m. at the BHS gym.

Besides the current world champion Lincou who will play Kyme on Monday evening, others coming from the Masters include:

Peter Nicol of England who is ranked number three in the world. The former world number one defeated Kyme last year at the Bermuda Open and he is also the defending champion of the PSA Masters title.

Jonathan Power from Canada is ranked number six in the world and he is a former world champion and world number one. He is the only player to win the Masters title in two consecutive years (2001,2002).

Lee Beachill from England is the world number two and Bermudians got to know him well last year as he won the Bermuda Open and will be looking to win yet another title on Bermuda soil.

David Palmer from Australia is the world number four as well as being a former world number one. Palmer is also well known on the island as he is a Bermuda resident.

Amr Shabana from Egypt is the world number 10 and won the World Open in 2003.

John White from Scotland is the world number 12 but he enjoyed being the number one player for a time last year.

The MC for the Masters will be the "Voice of Squash" Robert Edwards who also was the MC last year during the Bermuda Open.

Because the title sponsor for the Bermuda Masters is Virtual Spectator, the organisers said the matches will be filmed like none other in the past. "What they are doing is amazing," said Carter. "It is a perfect fit ? the Bermuda Masters and Virtual Spectator. They have also covered some of the biggest events in the world ? the Olympics and Formula One to name two. They are using our event to showcase their new technology."

About 600 fans will be able to fit into the BHS gym to watch the matches next week. Last year the all -glass court came from Rotterdam but this year it is based in the United States.

To bring in the court, seating and everything associated with the event, the organisers had to ship in three 40-foot containers.

Carter said: "We obviously had to work with the (Hamilton) Corporation to get the containers here at the BHS. We moved them on a Sunday and were forced to have the trucks reverse all the way up here. It was something to see."

On Monday workmen started putting the court together.

Asked what they learned from staging the Bermuda Open last year, Triffitt said: "I think the main thing was actually building the court for the first time. Also we had the venue for a shorter period of time and we were working literally around the clock to get the court and everything else ready."

Carter added: "Last year everything was new to us ? we played it lot by ear. I must confess I thought it would be easier this year but with all the new technology from Virtual Spectator there is a lot more work. Maybe next year it will be easier!"

Working with them are about 150 volunteers as well as a number of local companies. "There is a huge support system," said Triffitt.

The players and officials will all being staying at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and Fairmont Southampton Princess.

The total prize money is $120,000 ? $16,000 going to the winner.