India’s Harika Dronavalli and Padmini Rout managed to register hard-fought draws in the first game of the third round at the Women’s World Chess Championships, PTI reported.

Harika missed out on a chance to beat Georgia’s Sopiko Guramishvili, while Rout survived a scare before enforcing a draw with China’s Tan Zhongyi. Facing her third higher ranked opponent in a row, Padmini yet again managed to salvage a difficult position against Zhongyi.

The world championship is being held under knock-out rules. The event, being held in Tehran, began with 64 players and is now down to 16 with three more rounds to follow.