Hideki Matsuyama saw his lead cut to two shots as Henrik Stenson made a charge through the field early on day three of the WGC-HSBC Champions.
The Japanese had started the day with a three-shot lead at Sheshan International Golf Club and, while he picked up a shot in his first four holes to get to 14 under, American Bill Haas made two birdies to be his closest challenger.
The third member of the final group - defending champion Russell Knox - was then at 11 under alongside 2010 champion Francesco Molinari, with Stenson at ten under after picking up six shots in his first eight holes.
World Number Three Rory McIlroy was then a further shot back with two birdies in his first six holes.
Stenson made a huge move before the leaders had even teed off, birdieing his first four holes and then adding another on the sixth to get within four of Matsuyama.
Molinari also made a birdie-birdie start and while the players in the final group could not birdie the first, they all took advantage of the par five second - Knox and Matsuyama getting up and down and Haas two-putting.
Molinari's birdie on the first came via a lengthy putt and he made another on the third to get to 11 under, with Knox dropping a first shot of the day on the same hole.
The Scotsman bounced back when he almost made a hole-in-one on the fourth and Haas also made a gain to move into second place on his own.
McIlroy birdied the second but missed more birdie chances before rolling in a good putt from the fringe on the sixth.
Chris Wood and Matt Kuchar were both three under for the day through seven holes to sit at eight under alongside Richard Bland, Ross Fisher, Daniel Berger and Rickie Fowler.
