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30/09/2004
Bermuda's Big Deal With The PSA
Bermuda is set to become one of the world's top squash locations, with three major tournaments included in the biggest-ever PSA deal ...
bermuda mecca
Bermuda Gears Up To Become
Squash Mecca
 Bermuda
is gearing up to become a true squash Mecca for the next three years
after sealing the biggest deal in the sport's history with the PSA.
The tiny semi-tropical Island could lay claim to being the smallest
country in the world to ever host top class professional squash
following the overwhelming success of the 2004 Bermuda Open
last March.
Bermuda will be hosting the PSA
Masters in 2005 and 2006, followed by the World Open Championship in
2007. The PSA Masters is restricted to the world's 31 top-ranked
players as of the end of December this year, plus one wildcard entry
from Bermuda. Preparations are already well underway and dates
have been set for 4th - 9th April 2005.
Tournament Director Ross Triffitt
says: "Next year's PSA Bermuda Masters will be a veritable
festival of squash, providing a smorgasbord of events for the squash
enthusiast. We have registered the tournament earlier than
required as our aim is to encourage as many international visitors as
possible to the PSA Masters which is being held in the western world
for the first time. With Bermuda being a premier tourist
destination we are ideally suited to put on an event of this magnitude,
located as we are some 700 miles off the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
"In addition to the main event we'll be simultaneously holding the Bermuda Junior Open, sanctioned by
the USSRA, along with the Bermuda Open Graded Championship, which is
also being sanctioned by the USSRA. These events give both junior and
adult squash enthusiasts an ideal opportunity to see the world's top
players in action while also actively participating in one of these two
squash tournaments. We will also be running coaching clinics and
rules clinics, along with a series of social events, including a day of
golf on one or more of Bermuda's 9 picturesque golf courses."
Stephen Young, President of the
Bermuda Squash Racquets Association, adds: "Building on the
tremendous success of last March's Bermuda Open, we are keen to attract
visitors from around the world to the PSA Bermuda Masters, and
especially people from North America who live close to all of the
gateway cities serving Bermuda. We are receiving excellent
support from potential and actual sponsors and are working closely with
the Ministry of Tourism to promote our event in ample time for
interested squash fans to make the necessary travel plans. We
have a great organizing team and I have every confidence that our tiny
Island will again provide the world with a truly first class event."
PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars
also added: "I am pleased to confirm that all sponsorship and
registration procedures have been finalised with the Bermuda Squash
Association for the PSA Masters 2005.
"This is wonderful news for the world tour as it cements another
prestigious event into our calendar at a prize fund level that truly
reflects the prestige of the event and the world's best professionals.
"Indeed, this further confirms the enormity of the contract recently
signed with Bermuda to present consecutively two PSA Masters and the
PSA World Open for 2007. PSA is looking forward to attending
these events at a wonderful setting when bringing the hottest squash to
the shores of Bermuda."
 One
leading player no doubt itching to return to Bermuda will be last
March's winner Lee Beachill,
the Englishman who has been steadily rising up the ranks and, following
his success against current world No 1 Peter Nicol in the final of the US Open, will be taking over the
world No1 ranking as of 1st October.
Meanwhile on the local scene, the wildcard entry for Bermuda is
expected to be a keenly-fought contest between current Bermuda National
Champion Nicholas Kyme, ranked
85 in the world, and fast-improving James
Stout (the world No 116) - both of whom are products of the
Island's thriving junior squash programme, and both of whom will be
eager to win the Fast Forward Freight National Championships early next
year to qualify for the wildcard spot.
"There is no doubt that hosting major PSA squash tournaments has
already had a very positive impact on the quality of the sport in this
tiny Island with a total population of just 58,000 which presently
dominates men's squash in the Caribbean," added Triffitt.
For further information on the PSA Bermuda Masters 2005, from 4th
- 9th April, please contact the Tournament Director Ross Triffitt at
rosst@bermudasquash.com
PSA
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