The world's top squash players commence battle in Bermuda on Wednesday in what is set to be a showpiece week for sport on the Island.

But before the ranking points and prize money can be fought for, a few other scores have to be settled - like who can escape from the mire of qualifying for a shot at the big boys.

Sixteen players will descend on the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Devonshire headquarters this morning for a 10 a.m. draw.

Four of them are Bermudian, the rest are in the top 66 in the world, and they share the dream of scraping through two days of heated matches to decide who gets to join Nick Kyme and eight of the world's top ten players in the main draw.

Tomorrow, in particular, will see some fiercely competitive squash as the players fight for those vital spots that will yield ranking points and cash aplenty, as well as the opportunity to appear on the big stage and get a few day's accommodation at the Hamilton Princess paid for by the tournament organisers.

One of the players having to fight for a chance to hit a ball on the glass court at Bermuda High School on Wednesday in front of 600 people in Bermuda and millions on television is Mark Chaloner, president of the Professional Squash Association and the 22nd best player in the world.

“People are going to see some of the fittest and most unbelievably athletic sportsmen compete in some wonderful games of squash this week,” said Chaloner, a 31-year-old who has visited the Island three times before including a first round defeat to this year's number eight seed Joseph Kneipp in last year's Logic Open exhibition tournament.

“Anyone who has any sporting background or sporting knowledge is going to be thoroughly entertained. Squash at this level is a game that can really grab the attention and I think people are going to be amazed by what they see.

“It is an incredible venue and I think it will provide a superb atmosphere for squash.”

Chaloner, who arrived on the Island on Friday, is one of an increasing number of top players in the sport who believes Bermuda provides the perfect venue for this kind of event - and even larger ones.

“Bermuda is a very popular stop among the players,” he continued.

“We get looked after very well here and the people are so friendly. The hospitality is amazing and everyone feels very welcome.

“But it is also a very relaxing place. When you go to some places, like Hong Kong, everything is an effort because there are so many people and everything there is so frenetic.

“Every player looks to prepare for tournaments in different ways, but the aim is not to do anything too tiring and some places, like big cities, are just tiring in themselves. You find yourself just seeing a hotel, a venue and the journey in between, nothing more.

“But Bermuda is a beautiful place and it seems like an easy place to relax.”

Although the top players seem to be sticking to the courts to help with their preparation, a number of the qualifiers seem to be taking a little bit more time to see the Island, with fishing, golf and visits to various Front Street nightspots, albeit just to drink fruit punch, among the activities being undertaken by the visiting sportsmen.

Bermuda's enthusiasm for the event has impressed Chaloner, who believes the commitment being shown by tournament volunteers is one of the reasons that the sport is growing so quickly here.

“I went down to look at the new court and there must have been 30 guys down there, all volunteers with a passion for squash, carrying around seating and various other things for the venue and they were drenched in sweat,” he added.

“But everyone had a smile and seemed to be really keen to get the tournament running and running as well as it could.

“It is that attitude that is going to go a long way to impressing visitors and with people like Ross (Triffitt, tournament director) at the helm, it is no surprise a tournament of this size is being held.”