Top Squash Stars In Manchester For Dunlop British Open

England's Nick Matthew and Malaysia's Nicol David will be in Manchester next week to defend their titles in the Dunlop British Open at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity, from 20-24 September.

Boasting the highest prize fund for six years, the 'Wimbledon of Squash' has attracted star-studded fields - led by Egypt's world number one Amr Shabana in the men's PSA Tour Super Series Silver championship, and world number one Nicol David who will be seeking her third successive title in the women's WISPA World Tour Gold tournament.

The Dunlop British Open will also feature the sport's most successful annual Masters Championships, comprising 13 age-group events from Over-35 to Over-70.

Sixth-seeded Yorkshireman Nick Matthew stunned the squash world last year in Nottingham when he stormed through the top-class men's field to win the title against the odds. The 27-year-old from Sheffield became the first home-grown winner of the world's most prestigious event for 67 years!

Again the sixth seed in Manchester, Matthew will face a qualifier in the opening round before a likely quarter-final clash with favourite Amr Shabana, the 28-year-old from Cairo looking to win the crown for the first time.

Australia's David Palmer will be making his 11th appearance in the event since 1997. Seeded two, the 31-year-old from New South Wales will be aiming to win the title for a fourth time, after triumphs in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

Women's favourite Nicol David is enjoying a rich vein of form. Since winning the British Open in 2005, the 24-year-old from Penang has competed in 19 WISPA World Tour events - reaching the finals on all but one occasion!

David, who celebrated her 17th month as world number one this month, takes on England's Laura Lengthorn-Massaro in the first round - and is expected to go on to face long-time rival Natalie Grinham, the world No2 from Australia, in the final. But the draw suggests that Grinham may first have to overcome older sister Rachael Grinham in the semi-finals - reversing the outcome of the siblings' last meeting in the Dutch Open earlier this month.

Domestic interest in the women's event is led by Lincolnshire's world No4 Tania Bailey, who faces Dutch opponent Annelize Naude in the first round.

Men's 1st round draw:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Qualifier
[10] Lee Beachill (ENG) v Qualifier
[6] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier
[14] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Borja Golan (ESP)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
[13] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Alister Walker (ENG)
[7] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[12] Peter Barker (ENG) v Qualifier
[16] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Alex Gough (WAL)
[8] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Qualifier
[11] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
[4] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Mansoor Zaman (PAK)
[9] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) v Qualifier
[15] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Andrew Whipp (ENG)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier

Women's 1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Qualifier
[4] Tania Bailey (ENG) v Annelize Naude (NED)
[6] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[8] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Alison Waters (ENG)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier
[7] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier