Dunlop British Open 2008   

DUNLOP BRITISH OPEN –
LIVERPOOL 2008

The 2008 Dunlop British Open will be staged in Liverpool from the 6th to 12th May as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture 2008 and never in the championships' eight-six year history has the championships ever contained so many potential winners.

Leading contenders for the men’s title will include three Egyptians, Amr Shabana, the World No.1 and World Champion, Ramy Ashour and Karim Darwish, two Frenchmen, Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier, an Australian, David Palmer, and one Englishman, the 2006 British Open Champion Nick Matthew.

Can the spectacular Ramy Ashour, take over as the leading man from his supremely gifted compatriot Amr Shabana? Or will the elegant Karim Darwish become a third Egyptian to scale the pinnacle? Will the courageous David Palmer out-do the Egyptian trio to win his fourth British Open title? Will the two best ever Frenchmen, Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier, delight us again with their style and versatility? Or will England’s Nick Matthew repeat the brilliance which in 2006 saw him crowned British National, British Grand Prix and British Open Champion?

They are all impenetrable questions, and the women’s championship may prove to be equally diverse, with the outcome no less certain. Rachael Grinham can be guaranteed to make to tough minded defence, but it will take a repeat of her 2007 brilliance to see her lift the coveted trophy for a fourth time and so overcome the challenges of World No.1 Nicol David, whom she defeated so spectacularly in last year's final, younger sister Natalie Grinham, England’s Tania Bailey and Jenny Duncalf and the ever-dangerous Natalie Grainger from the USA.

What is certain however, is the event will be staged at one of the world’s worthiest venues, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals to be staged at the Liverpool Echo Arena (10th to 12th May).

Situated in the beautiful location of the Kings Dock on the River Mersey, the Liverpool Echo Arena will host the opening ceremony of the Capital of Culture Year in January 2008 and will be the centre of entertainment for concert goers and sports enthusiasts across the North West and North Wales, offering visitors a unique experience in one of the UK's most vibrant cities.

The Dunlop British Open - Liverpool 2008 will be first sporting event to be held at the new state of the art 10,000 plus seater arena, and will be a fitting venue for the world’s premier squash championships which will be staged in Liverpool for the first time in its illustrious history.