opening weekend of the Schroders Bermuda Open squash tournament.

Simon Parke of England led the charge on Saturday, outplaying Australia's Brett Martin, while Aussie Anthony Hill overturned the form books with a Sunday evening surprise victory over world number two Rodney Eyles.

Parke and Hill secured their spots in the final with each also recording second victories, allowing them to top their respective three-member, round robin groups.

The Open got underway on Saturday with a pair of thrilling matches at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association courts in Devonshire.

The encounter between Hill, ranked nine in the world, and world number six Del Harris of England began the championships and did not disappoint.

The pair engaged in a one and a half hour match that ended with Hill the victor 3-1.

Warm court conditions, while making it clearly uncomfortable for both players, favoured Hill's game.

Harris, meanwhile, let himself down, as his normally lethal forehand drop shot was a non-factor.

The nightcap saw a reversal of fortunes, with world number seven Simon Parke of Britain upsetting Aussie, and crowd favourite, Brett Martin 3-1.

Martin, a familiar visitor to the Island and widely regarded as the world's best `touch' player, had too few answers to a determined Parke, who showed finesse of his own along the way.

And it was yet another victory in a different sense, with Parke celebrating his fifth month back on the circuit after having battled cancer.

Last night witnessed Parke continuing on a roll to the final, holding off a challenge from countryman Chris Walker, while earning another 3-1 triumph.

Parke won the crowd pleasing spectacle 15-5, 15-12, 12-15, 15-14, playing good, tight squash and not making many mistakes.

Meanwhile, in a late night `shocker' Hill swept Eyles 15-3, 15-10, 15-12, the number one seed not looking nearly at his best due to a recurring back ailment.