glamour because there has been no increase to the $18,000 purse, according to Tournament Chairman Dave Protheroe yesterday.

A year ago the losing finalist, Canadian Gary Waite, suggested that it will take a significant larger amount -- probably around $25,000 -- to attract the usual large number of talented foreign players back this year and local officials at the time indicated that attempts would be made to do just that.

Protheroe said that the recent recession, combined with what local business regards as a slow growth in the economy, virtually made it impossible to find sponsors with hopes of increasing the pot.

"The fact that the figure remains the same hasn't had an effect on the entry list at all, in fact it could be the biggest ever,'' said Protheroe, of this year's event which will take place from April 22 to 26.

"Brett Martin of Australia, who is seeded number four in the world, is among those who have definitely been confirmed and I really think we are going to do quite well this year in attracting some of the big names.'' The second-seeded Waite made his remarks after he and top seed Martin met in last year's finals for the second year in a row -- a match-up that was beginning to look quite familiar.

Waite explained that top players would be "lured'' to tournaments giving larger purses, but since the likelihood of this happening appears to have been dashed by the downfall in the slumping economy.

"No tournaments have really increased their purse, in fact a few of the tournaments have disappeared. I know of two in Brazil and Canada in particular that will not take place this year,'' said Protheroe.

"Bermuda stand in a very good position because ours comes right after the Tournament of Champions takes place in New York, so we are able to catch the top players while they are on the North American continent.'' Such is the high degree of the talent this year that Protheroe revealed that serious consideration was given before allowing top local player Julian Rose to be included. "We had to think quite long about it,'' confessed the chairman.