Perennial world number one Jonathon Power announced his retirement from professional squash yesterday and confirmed he will not be returning to defend his Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters title next month.

The Masters champion, who is undisputedly the best squash player ever to emerge from North America, hinted after his triumph last year that his only remaining ambition in the sport was to return to the number one spot.

And having achieved that goal in February following a stellar 2005, the 31-year old Canadian admitted yesterday that he had nothing left to play for after 15 glorious years on tour.

?I?m sorry about not coming down to Bermuda to defend my title ? but I always said that if I got back to number one that would be it for me,? he said from New York yesterday.

?Of all the places I?ve played during my career it is one of my favourites and I will miss the crowd and the people who make the event what it is. But after a decade and a half training and playing on the professional tour, there comes a time when your body and your mind have had enough.?

Meanwhile, Masters tournament director Ross Triffitt yesterday expressed his disappointment that the tournament?s number one seed would not be taking part.

?It?s obviously sad news,? he said.

?Not only was he the defending champion, he was also one of, if not the, most exciting players in the world to watch and was a massive draw for all squash fans, not just in Bermuda but all over the world. But we don?t anticipate it affecting our tournament that drastically. The world number 32 will therefore get directly into the first round draw and we still have all of the world?s very best players competing. I wish Jonathon the best of luck.?

The Canadian was considered by many to be squash?s equivalent of John McEnroe: temperamental, controversial but phenomenally talented.

The world junior champion in 1992, Power?s ability was never in doubt ? although his reluctance to dedicate himself to the intensive fitness work required of a professional player initially undermined his efforts to make a big impression on the senior tour.

In 1997, however, under the guidance of highly-regarded coach Mike Way, Power decided to knuckle down ? a decision which paid immediate and spectacular dividends.

In the following year he became the first ever North American to win squash?s ultimate prize, the World Open, and his meteoric rise to fame culminated in him claiming the world?s number one position in 1999.

A winner of 32 professional titles, it was his legendary battles with main rival Peter Nicol from England which defined his career, with some of the 45 matches they played against each other regarded by many squash pundits to be among the best games ever played.