Some of the world's top squash players, including current world champion Dave Palmer, will be jetting into Bermuda in March for the Logic Bermuda Squash Open.

Six of the top 20 players in the world will converge on the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association's Middle Road courts for an eight-man tournament made possible by Logic Communications in association with ACE Group of Companies and Endurance Specialty Ltd.

The competition, news of which was revealed by The Royal Gazette in October, will run from March 3 to 5 and will provide the first opportunity for Bermuda to see Palmer, who was recently granted residency on the Island.

Palmer, from Australia and ranked number three in the world, will be the number one seed, while John White from Scotland, with a world ranking of four, is seeded number two.

The World Championship final in Antwerp, Belgium last month, which pitted Palmer and White against each other, has been heralded as one of the best matches ever, with White leading two games to love before Palmer came back to clinch victory.

"World number 11 Mark Chaloner from England has also committed to playing the Open and negotiations are still underway with two more top ten players and a top 15 player to complete the field," said Ross Triffitt, Bermuda's director of squash.

The two other places will be filled by locals with a qualifying tournament taking place on February 22 and 23.

BSRA squash professional Gary Plumstead, a former member of the South African junior men's team, will be the one to watch on the local scene. Plumstead is currently ranked number one in Bermuda with Nick Kyme at number two.

"Unfortunately, Kyme will be unavailable due to college squash commitments, however Tommy Sherratt, ranked number three, will be participating and is slightly favoured for the second qualifying position," said Triffitt.

"Chase Toogood, Nick Wiffen and James Stout will also provide tough competition with all players being very evenly matched."

The event was held between 1972 and 1996 before the men's Professional Squash Association (PSA) sanctioned a major event with conflicting dates, ultimately leading to the demise of the Bermuda Open. Previous winners include Brett Martin and Simon Parke who have both been ranked as high as number two in the world during their career.

Profits from the Open will be donated to the BSRA Junior Programme. In addition to the event benefiting the future of squash in Bermuda, the players have agreed to make special appearances and assist with the coaching of Bermuda's youth through the BSRA Schools Programme. This will also include a training session with Bermuda's national senior team.

"This is exactly the type of event that Logic wants to be involved with," said Bill Dickinson, Logic Communications' Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Being the primary sponsor of this tournament shows Logic's support of the local junior programme, while helping to create international awareness and exposure for the Island.

"This tournament mirrors Logic's goal to expand beyond the reach of Bermuda and offer world class telecommunications solutions on a more global level. We're looking forward to working with the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association in hosting what is sure to be an exciting tournament."

Tickets will go on sale on Monday, February 17, at the squash club in Devonshire.