One of the world's top squash players has given this year's Logic Bermuda Open tournament a glowing endorsement - before a ball has even been hit in anger.

England's Mark Chaloner, ranked 13th in the world, is one of six top 20 players on the Island for the event which begins at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association's Middle Road courts on Monday and runs until Wednesday.

He will be joined by Bermuda resident and world No.3 David Palmer, South Africa's Joseph Kneipp (16), Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee (nine), Scotland's John White (four) and Frenchman Thierry Lincou (six). Local players James Stout and Gary Plumstead round out the tournament.

Currently an exhibition event, it is hoped that it becomes a fixture on the Professional Squash Association circuit in the near future.

Certainly, Chaloner believes it should.

"Ideally, we would love this tournament to become a professional world ranking event," he said. "From the calibre of players that are here now, hopefully, it will give it a great kick-start and show to sponsors that it really is a worthwhile investment.

"I know Ross has done a fantastic job with the organisation, along with everyone else at the BSRA.

"All of the players take their hats off to guys that run these events and the sponsors that provide us with a living. It's fantastic that Ross has been able to get it off the ground and hopefully it will be bigger and better and have more purpose, in terms of ranking, in years to come."

Chaloner went out to Australia's Paul Price in the first round of HarrisDirect Tournament of Champions in New York in the week and will be hoping for a better result this time out.

"It was my first time back after injuring my shoulder," he said. "I came up against Paul and he was just slightly better than me on the day."

As a result of that loss, this event has taken on increased importance.

"Physically, I am in pretty good shape now," Chaloner said. "It's just a case of getting some matches under my belt and trying to turn over the guys that are ahead of me in the rankings.

"It doesn't matter when you play your rivals, you don't want to lose to them at any stage. It's a confidence building thing as well if you can turn them over."

Kneipp, meanwhile, who went out to the aforementioned Palmer in the second round in New York, was adamant he wanted to play in Bermuda.

"I met Ross at the Commonwealth Games and he told me about it," he said. "I saw some emails going around to the other guys and I hadn't received one.

"I emailed Ross and said `Hey mate, what's going on? Where's my email? Am I invited or not? He said "Yes you are' so I said `Put me down, I'm confirmed."

Kneipp is up against Lincou in the first round and although this is only an exhibition his competitive nature means he will be giving it 100 percent.

"Apart from the fact that I want to make it enjoyable for the public, I still want to win. I will definitely be out to beat Thierry in the first round," said Kneipp, who aims to break into the top ten this year.

Lincou is coming off a great performance in New York. He beat David Evans of Wales, England's Simon Parke, fellow Logic Open competitor White and Canada's Commonwealth Games champion Jonathon Power. Only world No.1 Peter Nicol of England prevented him from winning the tournament, the Frenchman going down 3-1 (15-11, 12-15, 15-10, 15-4) in the final.

Consequently, Lincou is feeling the effects of his exertions.

"I haven't had time to think about this tournament, everything was so rushed," he said. "I will rest for two or three days and then on Monday I'll be ready to go again and ready for the battle.

"I have a tough first round against Joseph but each round is going to be tough and I will just have to see how far I can go," he said.

The event is being staged with the assistance of Logic Communications in association with ACE Group of Companies, Endurance Specialty Ltd and the Bank of Butterfield and tickets are on sale now at the squash club in Devonshire. For more information contact the club on 292-6881.