The best of the Island?s squash fraternity will tune up for next month?s Bermuda Open in the upcoming Fast Forward Freight National Squash Tournament, starting next Saturday at the Devonshire courts.

The top men will compete in the Men?s National Closed Championship which has been sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association. This means players can earn ranking points while also taking the opportunity to prepare for the Open?s pre-qualifying tournament in which four local players and 12 foreign professionals will vie for places in the main draw.

The defending champion and club professional, Gary Plumstead, is likely to be strongly challenged by Nick Kyme who has a wild card into the Open?s main draw.

The latter is rapidly rising in the world rankings and edged out Plumstead 3-1 in an exhibition game last September, avenging his loss to Plumstead in the final of the Caribbean championships in August.

Another contender is James Stout who turned professional last year and is presently training in Belgium with Shaun Moxham, David Palmer?s coach. Stout?s preparation for the event has recently been hampered by a cracked rib which he sustained in a freak training accident.

Due to their world rankings as professionals, Kyme (at 103) and Stout (at 215) will be ranked number one and two respectively, with Plumstead at three.

Tommy Sherratt will be making his first appearance after taking a few months off from training but he still retains his number four ranking.

Other challengers with a chance of reaching the semi-finals include Nick Wiffen and Canadian Ryan Bell, a former finalist (2000) making a comeback after injury.

In addition to the Men?s Closed event, there will also be Men?s and Ladies? One, Two and Three Divisions, along with Men?s and Ladies? Veterans.

Denise Kyme and Liz Martin will be favourites to reach the Ladies? Division One finals but newcomer Jennie Chamberlain may play and has already shown she could be a strong contender.