Micah Franklin is set to be the first Bermudian in more than a decade to feature at the PSA World Championships in Manchester next month.

Franklin, a three-times national champion, with a highest world ranking of No 148, is excited about the prospect of testing himself against the best players in the world.

“It’s a huge privilege for me to get this opportunity,” said Franklin, who coached the Bermuda team at the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships in Guyana last summer.

“The thought of me playing against the best players in the world is daunting if I’m honest, but the experience and the atmosphere of me being there is so exciting.”

Asked about the chances of an upset, Franklin said: “Obviously there’s no hiding that I’m going to be one of the underdogs when I’m up there.

“My main objective is going to be fight for every single point. I want to make it as hard as humanly possible for my opponent if he’s going to beat me.

“I’m going there to play as well as I possibly can and then who knows what could happen. My game face will be on and I will be hungry to win.”

Franklin has teamed up with Arch Capital Group to be able to attend the tournament.

“I can’t express how grateful I am for the support from Arch Capital Group,” said Franklin, who represented Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

“It’s very easy to get distracted by financial worries of flights, accommodation, coaching, but now with the help of Arch I’ll be able to focus solely on my squash.

“It’s a huge blessing and I will represent them to the best of my abilities.”

The PSA World Open is regarded by most players as the pinnacle of squash on the calendar year.

Some of the greats to have won the event include Jahinger and Jansher Khan, of Pakistan, David Palmer, of Australia, Peter Nicol, of England, and Egyptian Amr Shabana.

Next month’s competition will feature top players such as Nick Matthew, of England, Greg Gaultier, of France, and Egyptians Mohamed El Shorbagy and Ramy Ashour.