KIEV -- Two-time world champion and FIDE Grand Prix winner Hou Yifan from China drew with reigning world champion Maria Muzychuk from Ukraine in the third leg of the Women World Chess Championship final match, held in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Saturday.

The battle, which lasted three and a half hours, was particularly tense. Playing with black pieces, Hou started cautiously and played in defense. In the same time, Muzychuk, who has learned from her mistakes in the previous match, put pressure on Hou, but her attempts to outwit more experienced opponent failed.

As the game stalled following 36 moves, the grandmasters have agreed for a draw, gaining a half-point each.

Accumulating two points after three games, Hou has a one-point victory margin over Muzychuk, with seven games left to go.

The FIDE Women's World Chess Championship final match for golden chess crown, which kicked off on Wednesday, runs till March 18.