Thierry Lincou & Rachael Grinham Named Top Seeds In 2005 Dunlop British Open

World number ones Thierry Lincou of France and Rachael Grinham of Australia have been nominated as top seeds in the 2005 Dunlop British Open, which will be held at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from 11-17 October.

Lincou, a semi-finalist in his past two appearances in the event, has topped the world rankings since January. The 29-year-old reigning World Open champion from Marseille, who is competing in the Gerrard Grand Prix Championship in Manchester this week, boasts four international final appearances this year, and won the Pakistan Open title in July.

Women's title-holder Rachael Grinham is seeded to become the first player since fellow Australian Michelle Martin to win three successive British Open titles. The 28-year-old from Queensland, who will be making her ninth appearance in the event, has held the world No1 ranking since August last year.

The men's champion David Palmer, also from Australia, is seeded three this year. The Belgium-based 29-year-old, who will be hoping to win the title for the fourth time since 2001, has only once failed to exceed his seeding in eight appearances in the British Open since 1997.

British interest in the men's event is led by Yorkshire's world No2 Lee Beachill. Seeded two, the three-times British National champion is expected to reach the final for the first time in his career. England team-mate Peter Nicol, the fifth seed, is a five-times finalist and winner of the title in 1998 and 2002.

Domestic interest in the women's event is headed by Manchester-based Vicky Botwright, the sixth seed. English players also take the next three seeded positions, led by Yorkshire's English Open champion Jenny Duncalf, the seventh seed; Lincolnshire's Tania Bailey, the No8 seed; and ninth seed Jenny Tranfield, from Yorkshire.

The 2005 Dunlop British Open, universally regarded as the 'Wimbledon of Squash', has attracted a world class international field from all five continents. Jonathon Power, the charismatic Canadian from Montreal, is the fourth seed and will be keen to add to the title he claimed in 1999.

Asian interest will be focussed on Nicol David, whose world No3 ranking has been hailed in her home country as "the best ever position by a Malaysian sportsperson". David, the World Games champion and winner of four World Tour titles this year, is seeded three - ahead of second seed Vanessa Atkinson, the World Open champion from the Netherlands.

Cousins Shahid Zaman (14th seed) and Mansoor Zaman (16th) lead Pakistani interest in the event which was dominated by two of the sport's greatest names - and fellow countrymen - Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan from 1982-1997!

The 2005 Championships return to Sportcity in Manchester for the first time since 2002 - when the event became the first to be staged at the NSC before it hosted the squash action in the Commonwealth Games.

Men's seeds:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG)
[3] David Palmer (AUS)
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN)
[5] Peter Nicol (ENG)
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
[7] James Willstrop (ENG)
[8] John White (SCO)
[9] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
[10] Graham Ryding (CAN)
[11] Adrian Grant (ENG)
[12] Joseph Kneipp (AUS)
[13] Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[14] Shahid Zaman (PAK)
[15] Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[16] Mansoor Zaman (PAK)

Women's seeds:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED)
[3] Nicol David (MAS)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS)
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA)
[6] Vicky Botwright (ENG)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[8] Tania Bailey (ENG)
[9] Jenny Tranfield (ENG)
[10] Madeline Perry (IRL)
[11] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[12] Annelize Naude (NED)
[13] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)
[14] Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[15] Alison Waters (ENG)
[16] Pamela Nimmo (SCO)

Tickets for the 2005 Dunlop British Open are now available exclusively from www.iSPORTticketing.com, or by telephone on 07973-544719; or via email to Rachel.Pullan@iSPORTmarketing.com.