The 34-year-old has won squash's oldest and most established tournament twice before, in 2007 and 2014.

Having gone undefeated in February, winning both the Swedish Open and the Windy City Open, he comes into this year's tournament as one of the favourites.

"Winning the British Open is very special," said Gaultier.

"In my opinion the top three events are the World Championship, the British Open and the World Series Finals - winning one of those events is an amazing achievement and in 2007 when I won my first British Open, it was like a dream.

"I played Thierry Lincou in the final and I remember I had so many messages and e-mails after that match - it's one of the oldest and most important titles out there.

"I've won it twice, and lost a few finals as well.

"So to have the chance to win it again would be simply awesome."

Gaultier faces a tough opening encounter against former world number four Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Colombia.

England's Nick Matthew also arrives in Hull in good form after he claimed the sixth PSA Canary Wharf Classic title of his career earlier this month.

The Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games men's singles champion is seeded fourth and is set to play Spain's Borja Golan in round one.

Egypt's world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy, who is the number one seed in Hull, opens his competition against compatriot Fares Dessouky.

The tournament's second seed Karim Abdel Gawad, another Egyptian, takes on his countryman Omar Mosaad in round one. 

Both Gaultier and Gawad could replace Elshorbagy as world number one following the conclusion of the tournament.

Nour El Sherbini will be hoping to defend her women's crown after she became the first Egyptian woman to win the British Open last year.

The 21-year-old came through a thrilling five-game final with compatriot Nouran Gohar to lift the title and is hoping to use that victory as inspiration.

"Winning the British Open last year meant a lot to me," said El Sherbini.

"It was a very special victory - to be the first Egyptian winner of the tournament was an amazing achievement and it was the start of really good period of form for me last year.

"The event has a lot of history and I always love playing the tournament. 

"I'm trying to train as hard as I can to defend the title and I'm very much looking forward to it.

"Hopefully it will be a good week again."

El Sherbini is the tournament's number one seed and has been drawn to play Line Hansen of Denmark in round one.

Camille Serme of France is seeded second and will go up against an unknown qualifier in her first match of the tournament.

Laura Massaro is the highest seeded English player.

She gets her tournament underway against Dipika Pallikal Karthik of India.

Action gets underway today and tomorrow with qualifying before the first round proper on Tuesday (March 21).