One is the defending Masters champion, the other the defending Bermuda champion ? and both Peter Nicol and Lee Beachill waltzed into the second round in style.

The second day of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters was devoid of five-game battles but was still a showcase for shotmaking, with some of the game?s best showing how to finish off an opponent in style.

Beachill, the 2004 Bermuda Open victor, was decisive in his defeat of fellow Brit Bradley Ball in the final game of the night while Masters winner in Qatar last year Nicol, was no less clinical during his victory in the day?s opening game.

Perennial number one Nicol, who beat local Nick Kyme in the first round here last year, was far too good for Egyptian Wael El Hindi, gliding to a graceful 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 victory.

The veteran Englishman, celebrating his 32nd birthday yesterday, hit winner after winner as he gave the watching audience a lesson in how to kill off rallies, dropping here, boasting there and volleying with aplomb.

And after the comfortable victory, Nicol, who talks more about enjoying matches than winning them, set out his stall for the remainder of the week.

?I am feeling good this week so I?d like to think I ha\ve a chance,? said Nicol, who had also beaten Kyme in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

?Last year I played horribly here. I wasn?t physically or mentally right for some reason. I had just won in New York (the tournament of champions) but I was tired and hurting and I just couldn?t raise my game here.

?But this time I am feeling good so we?ll see how far I can get. But because I didn?t play on Monday, it will be five games in five days for me ? I hope I have the fitness to get through it.

?I have reached the stage of my career where I am just looking to enjoy my squash, and if I am doing that then often I end up winning.?

His next match up will be with Mohd Azlan Iskandar, who became the second Malaysian to dispose of a seed in the opening round after Ong Beng Hee knocked out Mohammed Abbas on Monday.

Iskandar, who was comfortably beaten in the Junior British Open by Kyme when a 14-year-old, took full advantage of an uncomfortable looking Adrian Grant, to knock out the 14th seed in four games.

Grant, the first black player to represent England, was clearly out of sorts and became increasingly frustrated with both himself and the referee as he went down 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 11-6.

Although the seed was clearly in possession of all the shots needed to succeed at this level, his timing was out, his length was poor and he hit the tin enough times to put Iskander two games ahead quite comfortably.

Grant, clearly not back to his best following illness, improved in the third but the cunning Iskandar tanked the final few points to give himself plenty of energy for the fourth game, which he won 11-6.

?I am happy but it was clear Granty wasn?t playing that well,? said Iskander after the day?s opening game on the state-of-the-art all-glass court at the Jessie Vesey Sports Hall.

?He made a lot more errors than normal and he obviously wasn?t feeling well. It is good to get through for me and I am looking forward to the next round.?

In the evening session, Beachill, who had gained world number one status in the past 12 months before losing it again to Thierry Lincou, made short work of Ball, beating him 11-3, 11-4, 11-6.

From the opening rally it was clear the Yorkshireman wasn?t prepared to hang around on court and the points ended consistently early as Beachill smoothly moved into position before stunningly taking advantage.

A favourite for victory here, Beachill stealthily eased around the court, pouncing for the kill at just the right moment to make Ball look angular and awkward.

The number two seed clinically finished off the rallies and got off the court in just over half-an-hour ready for today?s clash with Graham Ryding ? who had a tougher time of it in the evening session?s opening game.

Canadian Ryding, who appears to be finally emerging from the shadow of fellow countryman Jonathon Power, took four games to beat Mansoor Zaman of Pakistan, coming from behind to book his place in the next round.

The number 13 seed appeared a little out of sorts in the opening game, going down 11-8 to the inventive and fast-moving opponent.

But after a few words from Power in the break, Ryding appeared more confident, volleying more consistently and dropping with more deadly accuracy.

Although he wobbled a few times along the way, he clinched the victory with three consecutive 11-9 games in a continuously pulsating encounter.

The second round begins today and even at this early stage of the tournament there are some mouthwatering prospects, none more so than the opening game of the day at the Bermuda High School for Girls gym.

World champion and world number one Thierry Lincou, the conqueror of Kyme on Monday, takes on former world champion Amr Shabana in a match dripping with the sort of quality that could grace any final.

And if that wasn?t enough, the second game on the showcourt sees home favourite David Palmer take on a fellow number one in the shape of John White, although number four seed Palmer should be the favourite as he coasted through his opening round while White was taken down to a fifth-game tie-break.

And the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association in Devonshire will also play host to potential epics.

The enigmatic Jonathon Power should have a fascinating encounter with rising French star Gregory Gaultier, a game in which the referee is sure to be kept busy.

In other games Beng Hee takes on number seven seed Nick Matthew, Aussie star Anthony Ricketts meets England?s James Willstrop while Olli Tuominen, who surprised 15th seed Jo Kneipp yesterday, takes on Egyptian Karim Darwish.