The longest-established and most prestigious event in world squash, the Dunlop British Open - Liverpool 2008 will be staged at the city's new ECHO Arena Liverpool from 10-12 May following qualifying and early rounds at the Liverpool Cricket Club from 6 May.
Gaultier beat compatriot Thierry Lincou in last year's Dunlop British Open final in Manchester to become the first French champion in the 80-year history of the event. The 25-year-old from Aix-en-Provence is the event's third seed - and would expect to meet Egypt's world number one Amr Shabana in the semi-final in the top half of the draw.
Shabana, who won the World Open crown for the third time in December, is seeded to win the British Open for the first time. The 28-year-old from Cairo faces Italy's highest-ranked player Davide Bianchetti in the opening round.
All eyes will be on the sport's rising star Ramy Ashour, the 20-year-old Egyptian who shot to second place in the world rankings last year in only his third year on the World Tour. The No2 seed - who beat Shabana for the second time this year in last week's Hurghada International final in his homeland - will meet Gloucestershire's up-and-coming Alister Walker, the 25-year-old England No7 who is based in Leeds.
Remarkably, it will be Ashour's maiden appearance in the 'Wimbledon' of Squash.
Home interest in the world’s most prestigious championships will focus on Yorkshireman Nick Matthew who will make an emotional return to British Open action in Liverpool. Two years ago in Nottingham, the world No6 from Sheffield became the first true Englishman for 67 years to become British Open champion. Matthew underwent shoulder surgery in January and will be making his Tour comeback on Merseyside, where he will face fellow Englishman Tom Pashley, the wild card entrant from Sussex, in the opening round.
Fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop, the runner-up in 2005, is seeded to reach the semi-finals and will take on Pakistan teenager Aamir Atlas Khan - at 17, the youngest competitor in the main draw - in the first round.
Australia's former world champion David Palmer will be making his 12th successive appearance in the event when he steps onto the court to face a qualifier in the first round. The 31-year-old from Lithgow in New South Wales - now based in Boston, USA - is a three times winner of the British Open trophy and one of five former world number ones competing in the event.
Complete 1st round draw:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Davide Bianchetti (ITA)
[14] John White (SCO) v Qualifier
[5] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier
[13] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Qualifier
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Mansoor Zaman (PAK)
[15] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Jonathan Kemp (ENG)
[16] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Qualifier
[10] Lee Beachill (ENG) v Alex Gough (WAL)
[6] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Tom Pashley (ENG)
[11] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Qualifier
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK)
[9] Peter Barker (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Qualifier
[12] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Qualifier
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Alister Walker (ENG)
Promoted by internationalSPORTgroup on behalf of England Squash, the Dunlop British Open - Liverpool 2008 is supported by title sponsor Dunlop, the Liverpool Culture Company, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the ATCO Group.
Tickets for the Dunlop British Open – Liverpool 2008 can be booked online at www.iSPORTticketing.com, by telephone on 0870 220 0735 or, for further information, e-mail