The battle of the squash legends

Bermuda Squash Racquets Association is on the eve of one of the biggest weeks in its history.

Six former word number ones will take to the club’s show court from Wednesday for four nights of sellout matches in the Randall & Quilter Legends of Squash Bermuda event.

And director of squash Patrick Foster says the buzz at the Devonshire club is palpable ahead of what promises to be an ‘awesome’ tournament.

Bermuda’s Nick Kyme will kick things off against former best-in-the-world John White.

Also on the island for the competition, clinics and some one-to-one tuition are: the legendary Peter Nicol, world number one for 60 months; Jonathon Power, North America’s greatest-ever player and Commonwealth Games gold medallist;  Thierry Lincou, France’s former number one and world champion; and David Palmer, the double world open champion and four-time British Open winner.

Foster told the Bermuda Sun: “It’s like a list of some of the greatest names of the last decade or longer.

“They are also from a tough era as well. They were all competing against each other for a very long period of time and they were all battling for that number one spot and it changed hands between the whole bunch of them.”

Foster said demand for tickets — the club has seating for 130 for each of the four nights — has been overwhelming: “It’s something we wanted to do at the club for our members and just for squash in general in Bermuda.

“It’s sold out. Every ticket for every night is gone. Now I have a waiting list for every night.”

So who’s favourite to take the inaugural title?

“I think probably you’ll  be looking at David Palmer and Thierry Lincou — the  two guys that retired the most recently. 

“Palmer is still Australia’s top player and is competing in this summer’s Commonwealth Games so he’s still playing top-10, top-16 standard in the world, which is pretty amazing, but he’s just a phenomenal athlete who can still do it.”

He added: “It kind of doesn’t seem real until you see the names on the wall for Wednesday night —  John White and Nick Kyme  and David Palmer against Jonathon Power — it’s ridiculous that these people  are playing back to back at the club. It’s really exciting. There’s a real buzz, definitely.” 

For more information on the event go to bermudasquash.com/legends