SOME of the sport's leading players descend on Maidstone Squash Club this weekend for the annual Maidstone Open.

Top seed is England ace Lee Beachill, who has risen to a career-high position of No 2 in the latest PSA world rankings issued on June 1.

Beachill, from Pontefract, Yorkshire, was a member of the England team that recently retained the European Team Championship by beating host nation France in the final in Rennes.

Beachill's rise up the rankings is due to brilliant form throughout the season, culminating in big tournament wins in Qatar and Bermuda.

The Maidstone Open is sponsored this year by leading insurance company Francis Townsend and Hayward.

Adrian Grant, from Catford, who was a team-mate of Beachill's in France, is No 2 seed at Maidstone. Grant is also enjoying a rich seam of form and currently holds a career-high world ranking of 16.

His selection for the squad in France made him the first black squash player to represent England.

Reigning champion Nick Matthew has had to withdraw because of injury but the tournment still boasts a high-quality field.

Other stars performing include Joey Barrington, son of squash legend Jonah, Australian Peter Hughes, and Maidstone's own national over-40 champion Colin Payne.

Maidstone players will also be heavily involved on finals day (Saturday) with three junior finals in the morning and a doubles competition slotted into the schedule between the semi-finals and the final.

The first round begins on Thursday with 16 local players competing for eight slots in the second round against eight professionals.

Schedule

Thursday June 10: First round (7.20pm)

Friday; second round 4pm. Quarter-finals 7pm.

Saturday: Junior finals from 11am. Under 12 final: Tom Chapman (Maidstone) v Emily Berwick (Maidstone). Under-14 final: Matt Fincham (Maidstone) v Marcus Kidner (Maidstone). Under-16 final: Kevin Saunders (Cobdown) v Chris Berwick (Maidstone).

Main semi-finals: 12 noon and 12.45. Doubles: 2-6pm. Main Final: 6.30pm.