round robin championships at Elliott School Gymnasium in the customary season opener that will feature some of the best players on the Island. Play will get underway at noon.

The event normally has the top 10 players from last season involved in knockout play, but the unavailability of players like number two ranked Corey Berkeley, Hasan Durham, Dave Waltham and Calvin Butterfield has brought in replacements who were previously listed as alternates -- veteran Milo DeShields, Monique Ternier, Allan Webb and Cyril Rubain.

Former Bermuda Open champion and long-time top local seed Dexter Smith has been ruled out after officials declared him ineligible for having played too few games last season through his involvement in cricket with the Bermuda team.

"It's a pity we will not have the top 10 players from last season, but there are still some prominent names involved in local table tennis and the event promises to be quite exciting once again this year,'' said re-elected president Mansfield Smith.

Nick Frost, who is the actual top seed based on his record a year ago, will be involved along with defending champion Derron Trott, Rawl Frederick and Dennis Pearman. Ternier, who has played most of her table tennis in Montreal, is the only female player in the league.

Frost and Ternier combined to win the doubles title of the Bermuda National Closed Championships last year.

Frost is the top seed going into tomorrow's play with a 36-3 record last season followed in order by Frederick 33-9, Derron Trott 28-8, Mike Lindo 27-12, Philip Hackett 27-12, Dennis Pearman 26-10, Monique Ternier 23-19, Allan Webb 17-19, Cyril Rubain 11-16 and Milo Shields 20-3.

The new alternates named are Gary Weller and Kevin Lapsley, both of whom played in the Second Division last year.

Meanwhile plans have been finalised for the start of the league season on Tuesday, but according to Smith the changes will see them operate with only one division instead of two as in previous seasons.

While a Second Division has been dropped the league will still operate with 13 teams according to Smith, executives opting to go with a solo league at a recent meeting.

Cleveland have dropped out of the league, but the association is pleased to see the return of Hamilton Parish, league and Challenge Cup champions during 1992-93.

"We are looking at the league lasting about 24 weeks, we hope to have it conclude on April 1 when the Bermuda Open will take place,'' said Smith.

"We have also come up with what is called a showcase date on January 10 with that day being reserved to have all games scheduled for one venue to enable anyone interested the opportunity to see each team perform. The Challenge Cup first round is set for January 12.'' The opening league fixtures are as follows: Wolves I v Wolves II, Social Club v Southampton Princess II, Prison Officers v West Indian Association, Centre v Christian Rovers, Southampton Princess I v Hamilton Parish, Bermuda College and Eastern Stars have a bye.

The BTTA is going ahead with the two tour plans already announced for the season, the first is to Mexico where they will be sending a four-man team to a tournament in Mexico in November. That team will include Corey Berkeley, Hasan Durham, Roderick Masters and Kacy King.

The second is in Detroit where the BTTA have frequently sent teams in the past to the US Open Team Championships, this time they will be sending a minimum of two teams to the event which will be held from November 23-29.

RARING TO GO -- Bermuda's lone female table tennis player Monique Ternier (left) and top seed Nick Frost are ready for action today.