For the first time over the weekend two professionals battled it out for domestic squash honours ? a fitting snapshot of the sport?s dramatic rise ahead of next month?s world class Bermuda Open.

Nick Kyme and James Stout, ranked 103rd and 215th in the world respectively, took to the court for the Men?s Open final in the Fast Forward Freight National Championships on Saturday evening for an eagerly-awaited clash of the Island?s two full-time players.

If Kyme, who has been give a wild card for next month?s Open, was supposed to breeze through the final then someone clearly forgot to tell Stout who started the match in fine style with a series of brilliant shots, changing both direction and pace, and leaving his super-fit opponent somewhat bemused.

Stout built up a solid lead in the first game and took it 15-11 much to the surprise of stunned spectators.

But Kyme came out for the second game clearly intent on picking up the pace. He began to show how much he has improved as a professional, and with Stout still playing superb shots and making impossible recoveries from all corners of the court, it was clear that squash in Bermuda had reached a new level.

But Kyme was in no mood to play exhibition squash and his power and speed began to take their toll as he surged through to take the game 15-4.

Stout continued to fight gamely and delighted the crowd with his ability to change direction and send Kyme the wrong way but by the third game, Kyme was hitting his stride and chasing every ball, while Stout began to tire.

In one remarkable rally Kyme hit at least four apparently clear winners only to have Stout use his exceptional reach and agility to retrieve the impossible, much to the astonishment of an enthusiastic crowd who cheered his determination even though he lost the rally.

However, the writing was on the wall and Kyme continued to pile on the pressure and took the third and fourth games 15-8 and 15-7 to take the championship by a score of 3-1.

Before Kyme and Stout stepped on court, the audience had been fired up by an exceptionally close and exciting ladies final between number one seed and newcomer Jenni Chamberlain and number three seed Liz Martin.

Martin started strongly and won the first game but Chamberlain used her effective high lob serves and deft drops to win the second. Martin then adopted almost the same tactics to take the third game and the two then engaged in a see-saw battle throughout the rest of match, with first one and then the other taking the lead.

In the fifth and final game Martin was just two points from victory and appeared to have it won, but with the pair showing signs of exhaustion Chamberlain hung in and played a series of delicate drops to seal a hard-fought victory ? the final score 3-2 (6-9, 9-2, 5-9, 9-3, 9-7).