Women's world chess champion Ju Wenjun, left, faces a US opponent in the next round of her world title defence ©Getty Images

China's defending champion Ju Wenjun will meet Irina Krush of the United States in the second round of the Women's World Chess Championships at Khanty-Mansisyk in Russia.

With the 27-year-old champion already through her first round match against Australia's Kathryn Hardegen, Krush won the right to play her next in the round-of-32 by completing victory over Ukraine's Inna Gaponenko.

Eighth-seeded Tan Zhongyi of China, who Ju defeated to earn the title in May, came through her opening match thanks to a win and a draw against compatriot Sun Fanghui in this World Chess Federation (FIDE) event.

The top 64 female players began this knock-out tournament at the Ugra Chess Academy three days ago.

The competition format is similar to the FIDE biannual World Cups in that each round consists of two classical games and, if needed, a rapid/blitz tiebreak on the third day.

India's world ranked number two, Humpy Koneru, is safely through to the second round at the Women's World Chess Championships in Russia ©Getty Images
India's world ranked number two, Humpy Koneru, is safely through to the second round at the Women's World Chess Championships in Russia ©Getty Images

There are five such rounds before a final that will be played over four classical games, and is scheduled for November 19 to 23.

India's second seed Humpy Koneru earned a 2-0 win in her first round match against Hayat Toubal of Algeria and will now meet 31st ranked Jolanta Zawazka of Poland.

Top home player and third seed Kateryna Lagno, who also reached the round-of-32 yesterday, will now meet Hoang Than Trang of Hungary.

The most notable casualty of the first round was Germany’s tenth-ranked Elisabeth Paehtz, who was beaten 1½-½  by 55th ranked Mobina Alinasab of Iran, who will now meet the 23rd seed, Monika Socko of Poland.