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WHITE PREVAILS IN
SENSATIONAL OPENER

Aussie turned Scotsman John White got the tournament off to a truly sensational start on the beautiful island of Bermuda yesterday with a narrow five game win over Welshman Alex Gough - a match overflowing with tension and excitement.

On a hot and bouncy court, both players stretched themselves to the very limit of their ability - thrilling the crowd with a bewildering succession of lightning fast rallies and remarkable gets. White was consistently the aggressor, using his rubbery wrists and incomparable power to dominate the majority of rallies from the centre of the court as Gough, ever the willing workhorse, strained every sinew to stay with his talented opponent.

Occasional lapses in concentration on White's part kept Gough in the match, and it was two needless tins at the end of the first that handed the Welshman the early initiative. White stormed back in the second, however, taking it 11-5 in a matter of minutes following a wonderful attacking display to which Gough had no answer. And with the third game also comfortably in the bag and his opponent sucking heavily on the humid air, it looked for all the world that White would emerge a comfortable victor.

But back came Gough in the fourth, refusing to meekly wilt on a court where the temperature touched 80 degrees Fahrenheit - although again White's sloppy errors at crucial moments cost him dear.

The decider was an absolute humdinger as both players ran down every ball, stubbornly declining to concede the initiative. Gough had match ball at 10-9 but was unable to convert - an untimely framed error which opened the door ever so slightly for White, who claimed match ball at 11-10. A lethal forehand kill into the front-corner finished the absorbing encounter, with White no doubt grateful that he now has a day off to recover.

    [12] John White (Sco) bt Alex Gough (Wal0
           9/11, 11/5, 11/6, 8/11, 12/10 (88m)

[4] David Palmer bt
Paul Price
     11/6, 11/2, 11/1 (22m)

LINCOU DASHES HOME HOPES

The evening session saw the local fans out in force as Bermudian national champion Nick Kyme took center stage against world number one, Thierry Lincou of France.

Despite a noisy partisan support, the world number 84 looked a little on edge in the opening exchanges, snatching a little at his shots when under pressure from the impressively mobile Frenchman. Lincou took the first 11-3 and looked to be cruising to victory in the second, taking it 11-7.

But against all the odds, the 24-year old Bermudian began putting it together in the third as Lincou took his foot ever-so-slightly off the gas. At 10-9, Kyme found himself match ball down, but hung on bravely to level the game and even command a game point. It was not to be, however, as Lincou effortlessly clicked through the gears in the face of the spirited resistance to take the third 11-10 (3-1).

"I wasn’t happy with the start of my match, but as Thierry likes to rally a lot, I was able to get into the match. My game plan was to try and make his life as difficult as possible. I would have love to sneak in a game, though, but I’m happy with my 2nd and 3rd game. "But he IS Thierry Lincou World Number 1 and World Champion come on! No, I was very glad with the way I played, I was so afraid of making a fool of myself. I know that the organisers took a lot of risks by inviting a wild card, and I wanted to make them proud…" Nick Kyme Bermuda Champion

"I was pretty relaxed, it was a good way of starting the event. I’m not going to pretend that I wasn’t happy about the draw, with all respect due to Nick. I’m glad, we did a good match, I feel that the crowd was happy, after all, he is the local hero, and he played extremely well, he gave it all. "I was actually surprised, “bluffed” by the level of his squash, quite superior to the squash he normally plays. Well done Nick…" Thierry Lincou

[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Nicholas Kyme (BER)
 11/3, 11/7, 11/10(3-1) (34m)

SHABANA ON SONG

In the final match of the night, the highly-talented Amr Shabana of Egypt swept aside Renan Lavigne of France in three straightforward games (11-7, 11-7, 11-8) - with Shabana rarely looking under pressure.

[10] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Renan Lavigne (FRA)
       11/7, 11/7, 11/8 (33m)

BACK AT THE CLUB ...

Meanwhile at Bermuda Squash Racquets Association headquarters on the other side of island, Canadian Jonathan Power was at his mercurial best against Mark Chaloner of England. Imperious throughout, Power made a good player in Chaloner look ordinary with his mesmerising speed and deception. It was simply the best 31 minutes squash you are ever likely to see as Power took the match 11-2, 11-2, 11-7.

Meanwhile, after months of poor form, Ong Beng Hee secured an encouraging four-game victory over the Egyptian Mohammed Abbas, 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-2.

Bermuda Open 2004 semi-finalist Nick Matthew of England defeated Shahid Zaman of Pakistan 11-8, 11-4, 11-4.

And Frenchman Gregory Gaultier beat Simon Parke of England in a grueling 71 minute, four-game encounter 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7.

"It was hard. The court was very warm, it was physically hard. The rallies lasted forever, and as he gets everything back, on a bouncy court… The match was very long. But I’m glad to say that I’m completely over my injury, and that I feel great…" Gregory Gaultier