A power-packed cast from the Asian Tour will be on parade at next week’s Barclays Singapore Open.

No fewer than 23 winners from the past two seasons in Asia will also shoot for a slice of the US$5 million prize pot where the winner's cheque of US$833,330 will play a major role in determining the Order of Merit champion this season.

Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee, currently leading the rankings with US$870,517 and chasing an unprecedented third Merit crown, will spearhead the region's challenge at the Barclays Singapore Open, which will be co-sanctioned for the first time with the European Tour.

Thongchai has triumphed in Indonesia and Korea this season to hold the most number of career victories on the Asian Tour with 12 titles and leads the Merit race by US$475,000 from American Anthony Kang.

Chinese star Liang Wen-chong, Asia's number one in 2007, and 2005 Order of Merit champion Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, a former Singapore Open winner, will be amongst the big guns who will challenge international stars Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington for supremacy in Singapore from October 29 to November 1.

Amongst this season's winners who will compete in Asia's richest national Open include India's newest hero C. Muniyappa, who triumphed in the Hero Honda Indian Open two weeks ago, compatriots Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jyoti Randhawa, the Singapore Open champion in 2000, Australian duo Darren Beck and Rick Kulacz and talented Korean Bae Sang-moon.

Big-hitting Thai Chapchai Nirat, who led after the third round of the Barclays Singapore Open last year, will also look to rekindle his love-affair with The Serapong Course. Chapchai established a new world scoring record of 32-under-par 256 en route to victory at the SAIL Open in India earlier this season.

Lin Wen-tang, victorious at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters earlier this month and ranked second in Asia in 2008, will also be aiming to become Chinese Taipei's first winner of the Barclays Singapore Open since Lu Chien-soon's victory in 1989. Veteran Lu, who also won the event in 1983, is also in the elite field next week.

Top Singaporean duo Lam Chih Bing and Mardan Mamat will spearhead the local charge. Lam, who broke through for his first Asian Tour victory at the end of 2008, produced a magical run last year where he forced his way into the last group of the final round before finishing tied 18th.

He will be aiming to make amends in front of his home fans in the championship which has yet to herald a local winner.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: "The line-up of Asian Tour stars for the Barclays Singapore Open is truly an impressive one. Our players are looking forward to challenging the best players in the world and they are also keen to maintain their winning form in co-sanctioned events this year with the likes of Thongchai Jaidee and Anthony Kang winning tournaments in Indonesia, Korea and Malaysia."