Siddikur Rahman was on course to claim his first European Tour win as he opened up a three-shot lead midway through the final round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
The 31 year old came into the final day at Four Seasons Golf Club at Anahita with a one-shot advantage but while his closest overnight challengers fell back on another day of tough scoring, Siddikur turned in 35 to get to eight under.
Jeunghun Wang had been the closest competition after round three and he remained in second on five under but a front nine of 37 allowed Siddikur to establish a cushion.
Scott Hend was then three further shots back - with just three players under par - three shots clear of Nicolas Colsaerts, Rahil Gangjee, Richard McEvoy and Brandon Stone.
A victory for Siddikur would not only be his first but would also make history as he would become the first Bangladeshi to win a European Tour event, taking the number of countries with winners to 37.
A bogey from Wang on the first saw the lead quickly extended to two but Siddikur left himself a tricky chip on the third and could only find the bunker. He recovered brilliantly but dropped a shot and his lead was cut to one.
A beautiful tee-shot on the par three fifth handed the leader a birdie and when he put his approach to the sixth to 18 feet and holed an excellent putt, the lead was three.
Playing partner Wang needed three shots to find the green after his tee-shot ended up on an awkward slope and when he missed his par putt, the two-shot swing put Siddikur firmly in control.
Wang then used his length advantage over Siddikur to drive over the ninth green and make a birdie to reduce the gap.
Hend had bogeyed the first and fourth but back-to-back gains from the sixth and a brilliant chip-in over the stream on the ninth helped him turn in 35 and sit in third.
Gangjee was the hottest man on the course at three under for the day through 15 holes.
