to be the best ever, with a star studded cast of overseas entries having been secured for the October 12-15 event Heading the list, one which includes six of the top 10 ranked players in the world, is current world number two Rodney Eyles of Australia, who recently downed top ranked Jansher Khan at the Hong Kong Open and enters as the favourite.

Next is fellow Aussie Brett Martin, a three-time winner of the Open, honorary life member of Bermuda Squash Racquets Association and last year's losing finalist to Zarak Jahan Khan of Pakistan.

Martin, long regarded as the best `touch' player on the pro circuit, is presently ranked third in the world and even at 33 shows little sign of slowing down. He and Eyles were, in fact, in Bermuda together in June of last year, when they performed an exhibition at the Devonshire Courts.

Completing the sextet are English trio Chris Walker (world number five), Del Harris (six), Simon Parke (seven) and Australian Anthony Hill (nine).

This week chief organiser Christine Barnes was enthusiastic about what she believes is a real coup for the club as well as Bermuda.

"We're very excited about the field for this year's event, we've worked hard for six or seven years now and I think we've reached our peak...it doesn't get any better than this,'' said Barnes, her voice tingling with anticipation.

"We owe a lot of thanks to Brett Martin, who did most of it, urging the others to take part. I guess we've kept him happy all these years that he's been coming. He's best buddies with these guys and convinced them to come along with him.'' Also unveiled was a new, spectator friendly format, featuring an initial round robin phase, one which will have the field split into two groups of three.

Each member will play two matches, with the winners of each facing off in the final, while the two runners-up battle for third place in a petit final.

Thus there will be two matches featured on each of the first three nights, culminating with a Tuesday `finals night'.

Barnes explained the change to have been made so that spectators would get the opportunity to see the world's best more than once.

"In the past what's happened is that some of the players have turned up exhausted after being in another tournament and maybe have gone out in the first round, which is a disaster,'' said Barnes.

"This way they get to play at least two matches, which assures spectators of seeing the world's best players more than one time, because when you bring such good players it seems silly not to have them out there.'' This weekend has most of the group performing in Qatar, an island nation off the coast of Saudi Arabia, and they are then due to fly to the Island immediately following and later go to Minneapolis for the US Open.

Tickets for the event are $25 and are available from the club in Devonshire -- juniors pay just $10 on Saturday and Sunday. Matches start at 6.30 p.m. each night. Interested persons can call 292-6881 for further details.