“I’m really surprised to play so well again. I know tomorrow is a very important day, so I’ll try to relax tonight by playing cards with Wu Kangchun as I’ve been doing all week,” joked the slimline Zhou, who only turned pro in 2007.

　　“I’d rate my performance this week at about 9.9 out of 10. I played really well in Tianjin, although I’m starting to get a little bit tired as this is my fifth event in five weeks. However, my putting has been good recently, which is the biggest difference to the first half of the year.”

　　Zhou will face a big test trying to hold off the experienced Chan, who’s looking for his first Omega China Tour victory after finishing joint-runner with compatriot Hsu Mong-nan in the season-opening Guangzhou Championship and third in the Dell Championship in Xiamen, won by Li.

　　The 31-year-old is aiming to become the fourth Chinese Taipei player to lift silverware this season following victories by Lu Wen-teh in Kunming, Hsu in Shanghai and Tsai Chi-huang’s back-to-back wins in Chengdu and Tianjin last month.

　　“I last won in Chinese Taipei 10 months ago, so I’d really like to win again, although you never know what’s going to happen on the final day. I’m playing well and could have scored better today, but I missed several short putts,” said Chan, who started the week talking about having a ‘big chance’ of victory.

　　The final round will not only decide who will take home the RMB187,500 winner’s paycheque in the Omega China Tour’s richest event but also confirm the final Omega Order of Merit, with 31-year-old Liao poised to win the prestigious honour for the first time.

　　The Omega Order of Merit champion will be crowned along with several other award winners during Sunday evening’s Omega China Tour Gala Dinner at the Sofitel Wanda Beijing.

　　The Omega Championship is being held for the first time at the 27-hole Beijing Longxi Hotspring Golf Club after two successful editions at the Tianan Golf Club, also in the capital, when Liang Wenchong and Zhang Lianwei emerged as champions.