originally scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.

Event organiser David Lambert yesterday told The Royal Gazette delays in completing the Elbow Beach hotel's million dollar renovations have forced a postponement into early next year.

"We're having problems finishing the hotel,'' Lambert said. "But it's definitely still going to happen.'' The tournament was originally scheduled to run the week of September 14 as the finale of the Elbow Beach Hotel's renovation and grand re-opening.

But construction has been plagued by bad weather and hurricanes Danielle and Bonnie forced furniture delivery delays.

No date has yet been decided.

"If we lose September and then October, November could be a tricky month for weather,'' Lambert explained.

"December and January are not the best times of year, but I'd like to think that we'd have it as early as possible.'' March is a "strong possibility'', Lambert said, but may prove to be an exceptionally busy time as the hotel prepares for the Samuel L. Jackson Celebrity Golf Classic.

Despite the lengthy delay, Lambert promised top name players Ilie Nastase, Tom Gorman, John Lloyd, and Ken Rosewall and various undisclosed movie celebrities will still be on hand for the gala event.

"Nothing has changed except the date,'' he promised.

"It's definitely going to happen. We're just waiting for the hotel to be complete,'' said Lambert. "The players are still locked in.'' However, he admitted he was uncertain whether a second Legends event planned for next September would take place in the same year.

Earlier, Lambert disclosed big name tennis stars Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean-King, and Rosie Casals were already in negotiations for the follow-up tournament.