White Squeezes To Victory In Bermuda Masters Opener

Scotland's world No11 John White got the Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters off to a truly sensational start on the beautiful island of Bermuda with a narrow five-game win over Welshman Alex Gough at the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre in Hamilton.

It was the first day of the $120,000 PSA Super Series event which boasts the world's top 31 squash players - the biggest and best sporting event ever held in Bermuda which is being presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance.

On a hot and bouncy court, both players stretched themselves to the very limit of their ability - thrilling the crowd with a bewildering succession of lightning fast rallies and remarkable retrievals. White, an Aussie turned Scotsman, was consistently the aggressor, using his rubbery wrists and incomparable power to dominate the majority of rallies from the centre of the court as Gough, ever the willing workhorse, strained every sinew to stay with his talented opponent in a match overflowing with tension and excitement.

Occasional lapses in concentration on White's part kept Gough in the match, and it was two needless tins at the end of the first that handed the Welshman the early initiative. White, the 12th seed, stormed back in the second, however, taking it 11-5 in a matter of minutes following a wonderful attacking display to which Gough had no answer.

And with the third game also comfortably in the bag, and his opponent sucking heavily on the humid air, it looked for all the world that White would emerge a comfortable victor. But back came Gough in the fourth, refusing to meekly wilt on a court where the temperature touched 80 degrees Fahrenheit - although again White's sloppy errors at crucial moments cost him dear.

The decider was an absolute humdinger as both players ran down every ball, stubbornly declining to concede the initiative. Gough had match ball at 10-9 but was unable to convert - an untimely framed error which opened the door ever so slightly for White. A lethal forehand kill into the front-corner finished the absorbing encounter, with White clinching his 9-11 11-5 11-6 8-11 11-10 (2-0) victory in 88 minutes - no doubt grateful that he now has a day off to recover!

By contrast, the second match in the afternoon session, involving the Australian duo of Paul Price and David Palmer, was significantly more low-key. Fourth seed Palmer, a Bermuda resident and clearly anxious to impress squash fans in his adopted home, strode onto the court exuding confidence and self-belief. The same could not be said for his opponent, however, who due to a number of other commitments, including a burgeoning career as a musician, had not been involved in a competitive match since November.

Unfortunately, it showed, as Palmer swept aside the former world number four 11-6 11-2 11-1 in 22 minutes. Palmer will need every drop of that saved energy in a mouth-watering second round encounter with his friend and rival John White on Wednesday.

The evening session saw the local fans out in force as Bermudian national champion Nicholas Kyme took centre stage against world number one Thierry Lincou of France. Despite noisy partisan support, the world number 70 looked a little on edge in the opening exchanges, snatching a little at his shots when under pressure from the impressively mobile top-seeded Frenchman.

Lincou took the first 11-3 and looked to be cruising to victory in the second, taking it 11-7. But against all the odds, the 24-year old Bermudian began putting it together in the third as Lincou took his foot ever-so-slightly off the gas. At 10-9, Kyme found himself match ball down, but hung on bravely to level the game and even command a game point.

It was not to be, however, as Lincou effortlessly clicked through the gears in the face of the spirited resistance to take the third 11-10 (3-1).

In the final match of the night, the highly-talented Amr Shabana of Egypt swept aside Renan Lavigne of France in three straightforward games 11-7 11-7 11-8 - with former world champion Shabana rarely looking under pressure.

Meanwhile at Bermuda Squash Racquets Association headquarters on the other side of island, Canadian Jonathon Power was at his mercurial best against Mark Chaloner of England. Imperious throughout, Power made a good player in Chaloner look ordinary with his mesmerising speed and deception. It was simply the best 31 minutes squash you are ever likely to see as Power took the match 11-2 11-2 11-7.

Meanwhile, after months of poor form, Malaysia's unseeded Ong Beng Hee secured an encouraging four-game upset over the Egyptian Mohammed Abbas, the 16th seed, 11-8 11-3 8-11 11-2.

Bermuda Open 2004 semi-finalist Nick Matthew of England defeated Shahid Zaman of Pakistan 11-8 11-4 11-4 - and Frenchman Gregory Gaultier beat Simon Parke of England in a gruelling 71-minute, four-game, encounter 11-4 8-11 11-6 11-7.

1st round:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Nicholas Kyme (BER) 11-3, 11-7, 11-10 (3-1) (34m)
[10] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (33m)
[6] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 11-2, 11-2, 11-7 (31m)
[9] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Parke (ENG) 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 (71m)
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt Paul Price (AUS) 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 (22m)
[12] John White (SCO) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0) (88m)
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (34m)
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [16] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-2 (50m)