Thongchai Jaidee continued his recent good form to move to the top of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai leaderboard on a low-scoring day at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Charl Schwartzel birdied four of his last five holes for a 65 which set the clubhouse target at eight under but Jaidee was the man to catch at nine under with three holes to play.
The Thai won a seventh European Tour title at the Porsche European Open in late September and since then has secured three top 15 finishes including a tie for third at last week's BMW Masters.
And he carried that good form to the Earth Course, following an opening 69 with birdies at the first, second, fifth, eighth, 11th and 14th to move ahead.
Schwartzel is in the hunt for a tenth European Tour title and was bogey free as his spectacular finish added to birdies on the second, fifth and seventh holes to move him to eight under.
Andy Sullivan was also a shot off the lead as he looks for a fourth win of a remarkable season.
The Englishman came into the day with a share of the overnight lead at six under and stunning approaches to inside two feet on the first and seventh allowed him to turn in 34.
Emiliano Grillo was also at eight under as he picked up birdies on the first, second, eighth, tenth and 13th. The Argentinian has just three top tens on the European Tour this season but recently claimed his first win on the US PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy was then in the group at seven under as he battles it out with Danny Willett to claim The Race to Dubai title. The duo came into the week separated by just 1,1613 points and there was just one shot between them midway through their second rounds in Dubai.
McIlroy had four birdies and a single bogey through 14 holes while Willett was a shot further back having played 12.
Justin Rose also still has a chance of winning The Race to Dubai and he put himself into a good position going into the weekend with four birdies on his last four holes helping him to a 66.
The Englishman turned in 35 but six birdies on the back nine helped him get to seven under alongside Alex Noren who carded a 66 and Bernd Wiesberger who went round in 65.
Francesco Molinari was also two behind the leader after turning in 34 while Martin Kaymer reached the tenth tee at the same mark.
Patrick Reed, beaten in a play-off in Shanghai last week, was the seventh man at seven under with two holes to play.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat had the third 65 of the day to sit alongside Willett at six under with Byeong-hun An in the clubhouse and Marcus Fraser and Thomas Pieters still out on the course.
Victor Dubuisson was then at five under following a 67 alongside Branden Grace who had five holes to play.
Ian Poulter reached the turn in 38 after finding the water on the sixth to drop to four under, one clear of Louis Oosthuizen whose Race to Dubai chances look to have evaporated.
It is unlikely to be Shane Lowry's year as he goes into the weekend one over, one shot better than two-time defending champion Henrik Stenson who recovered from slipping to nine over with seven birdies in a 69.
