SEVEN years ago Canadian Jonathon Power, one of the world's best ever squash players, took on Egypt's Amr Shabana. It was, to say the least, a gruelling encounter. It took Power five difficult sets to win. Afterwards the Canadian said: "If I were to choose a future world champion Shabana would be the one. He will pose a constant threat to the top 10 players." Four years after that 1999 encounter Shabana took hold of his first World Open trophy.

Rodney Eyles, a former world champion, put the way the left-handed Egyptian shotmaker plays into perspective when he said: "He plays differently, not like us. He is an alien."

After his victory in the World Open in 2003, Shabana grabbed the title again last year and a week ago ? a day before he opened the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters last Sunday with a victory over England's Joey Barrington ? he was officially named the number one player in the world.

And now he wants to stay there.

"I don't want to just stay at number one for a month," he said this week after walking off the court at the Jessie Vesey Sports Gym where he had just defeated John White. "I want to see how long I can keep it (number one title). I knew I was going to be number one when I won the Tournament of Champions but I try not to think about it too much because you can lose it in a month. You have to keep it. My plan to to keep it as long as I can."

And Shabana is under no illusions about how hard it will be to keep his grip on the number one ranking. He said that the days when Jahangir and Jansher Khan dominated the squash world are long gone.

"Before there were the Khans and then everybody else. That is not how it is today ? it is very, very close. There is not much between the top 12 players in the world. Every match it is 50-50. The competition is very intense. There is not much between us."

Shabana was practically born on a squash court in a country where it is only second to football as the most popular sport.

His mother was a national champion as was his older sister.

But it was the Khan brothers from Pakistan who really made him want to succeed. "It was the Khans who inspired me ? they really set the bar for everyone. I knew them growing up and they watched me play my first World Open final. Now I am good friends with them," said Shabana.

Egypt has a long history in squash and many of the best players have come from that country. But Shabana is the first from Egypt to be named number one in the world.

Asked what the reception has been like in Egypt since he was named the best in the world, Shabana replied: "I haven't heard much from home about me going to number one ? but I am a long way from home. It should be good though as I am the first one (Egyptian) to do it. I hope it stirs things up."

Shabana said that although squash is the second biggest sport in his country, it did fall off a bit when Gamal Awad died in 2004. Awad was one of Egypt's most successful squash players of the 1970s and 80s and died suddenly at his home in Alexandria only at the age of 49.

He was the runner-up in both the 1982 World Masters and 1983 British Open ? in both cases to Jahangir Khan ? and was perhaps best known for participating with Khan in the longest-recorded match in the sport's history, in the Chichester Festival in England in 1983. Awad recovered from 1-8 down in the first game to win it 10-9 in 71 minutes ? itself the longest game on record ? before Khan ultimately claimed match victory after an incredible two hours and 46 minutes!

Strangely enough Awad untimely death coincided with Shabana's appearance in the final of the British Open in Nottingham ? the first appearance of an Egyptian in the famous event's final since Awad's in 1983.

Shabana said: "He (Awad) was world number three a long time ago. But I am trying to get the sport back up there."

And Shabana is now hoping for some support from his national association. "I came up to number one with no help at all and so maybe now they will support me."

There is one person who he can rely on for unconditional support when he is travelling the world competing ? his wife Najna.

Shabana is one of the few players who travels with his wife but as he said: "I don't travel with a coach because I don't have one. It is very lonely on tour and having my wife with me gives me no excuse to go home early! I am lucky I can travel with my wife ? most guys don't as it is not always easy to bring your wife long. Being on the road all of the time can be quite tiring as we basically play all year round. We live out of a suitcase and always seem to sleep in airports. It is very hard work."

Shabana didn't really have much choice about picking up squash because everyone else in the family was playing it.

His mother was a champion as was his sister Salma who was champion of Egypt. Both have coached him.

He won numerous titles as a junior and made his international debut at the 1996 British Open.

Asked if being named number one in the world would inspire youngsters back in Egypt, Shabana laughed and said: "We already have the world junior champion (Ramy Ashour). The future of the game at home looks very good."

And he can't wait to return to Bermuda next year when the island hosts the World Open.

"Bermuda is beautiful ? I could play here all year round! I am happy that Bermuda will host the Worlds next year ? they have done such a good job with this (the Masters). I hope they will continue to play the Masters here for the next 10 years. It is great for the sport overall and good for Bermuda."