ASIA specialist Simon Dyson defied thunderstorms to illuminate his chances of a seventh European Tour crown.

The man who numbers winning the Indonesian Open in 2006 among his six European Tour triumphs as well as winning the Asian Tour in his rookie year as a professional in 2000, was jointly placed first alongside Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Dyson had five holes of the second round held over until early today to complete before starting the third round as organisers bid to ensure the $6 million tournament is not reduced to 54 holes as it was by the weather a year ago.

Like the first day on Thursday, play was suspended yesterday at Sentosa Golf Club because of torrential rain and the chance of lightning.But by the second successive stoppage Dyson was on six under-par, his first round 69 followed by four birdies in a flawless opening 13 holes of the second round, to lead a field, including world number one Rory McIlroy.

World number 63 Dyson, who is bidding to return to the top 50 before the end of this year, completed his first round on two under. Then, starting his second round on the tenth, he picked up shots at the 12th, 14th and 18th holes before opening his inward nine with another birdie on the 429-yard par-four first.

McIlroy is down in joint 29th place on one under.