Matthew & Gaultier To Contest British Open Final

England's World Champion Nick Matthew and world number one-ranked Frenchman Gregory Gaultier will contest the final of the 2014 Allam British Open Squash Championship at the Sports Arena in Hull.

Matthew earned his place in the final following a gruelling 104-minute, five-game win over Egypt's world No3 Mohamed Elshorbagy while Gaultier ruthlessly put defending champion Ramy Ashour to the sword in an emphatic 3/1 win over the Egyptian.

Three-time British Open champion Matthew will be hoping home support propels him to glory in a repeat of the performance that saw him beat the Frenchman 3/2 in a dramatic finale to the 2013 PSA World Championship in Manchester last November - a victory that saw the Sheffield man claim his third world title.

"The pace throughout the match today was relentless and I felt like I was running on fumes at the end," said Matthew, who's aiming for British Open title number four.

"Mohamed is one hell of a player but I'm pleased with how I used my experience today to get the win. The crowd were amazing throughout the match today and they were really supportive of both players.

"They really willed me on when I played Greg in the World Championship final last year and pulled me over the line so hopefully I can give them more to cheer about tomorrow."

Gaultier, a British Open winner in 2007, will be hoping to overturn his recent form against Matthew, having also lost to out to the world No2 in December's Hong Kong Open and February's CASE Swedish Open.

"Nick is an unbelievable player and he's had an amazing career," said Gaultier.

"He has achieved so much but he is always still hungry and he has a real fighting spirit which he showed today against Mohamed.

"He always tries to the last point but I'm here to win and this tournament is one of my main targets for the season. Winning the title for a second time would be just as amazing as the first so I'll give it everything tomorrow."