Bermuda's squash players once again struggled against world class opposition in Vienna, Austria yesterday, losing 3-0 to Finland at the World Team Championships.

The defeat means that Bermuda cannot finish any higher than third place in their group and condemns them to the lower half of the play-off draw which takes place in the latter part of the week.

The one highlight of what was an otherwise trying day was the performance of Bermuda's number one Nick Kyme against the world number 30, Oli Touminen.

The young Bermudian completely outplayed the flying Finn in the first game, keeping him pinned in the back with his unwavering length and cutting the ball into the nick for a succession of drop-volley winners. Despite a loss of concentration at 8-2 up, Kyme held his nerve in the face of Touminen's rapid resurgence to take the game 10-8.

The Finn came back strongly in the second, clearly aware that he had to be at his absolute best to prevail against a determined opponent, easily his match in terms of speed and athleticism. At 8-7 to Touminen, with the game in the balance, the Finn produced an immaculate backhand drop shot winner to make it a game apiece.

Although he remained competitive in the next two games, securing serve a large number of times, Kyme failed to win many points and increasingly struggled to cope with Touminen's unrelenting pressure. The Bermudian eventually lost the last two games 1-9, 1-9.

James Stout went up next against Juha Raumolin, the former World Junior Champion. Although he put together a few respectable passages of play, the 19-year-old never really gained a convincing foothold in the match and was often left scrambling to retrieve in the back corners. Stout eventually went down in straight games, 9-6, 9-4, 9-3.

Sam Stevens was last on court against the slight-framed Hameed Ahmed. At four-all in the first, Stevens seemed to be adapting to the extra pace of the top level. It was not long, however, before he began to wilt, making a number of unforced errors at the front of the court and becoming scrappy and loose at the back.

Ahmed prevailed in three, 9-4, 9-3, 9-1.

Bermuda now play Hong Kong at midday Bermuda time today in the last round of the first pool stage.