VERNON, B.C. -- China's Bingyu Wang fought off a challenge from a feisty Italian squad here at the Ford World Womens Curling Championship Wednesday evening to improve to 8-1 and head into the final day of the round-robin tied with Canada for first place.

Trailing Italy 8-7 coming home, Wang scored three with the hammer in the final frame to win 10-8.

China had led Italy 6-3 at one point, but Italian skip Diana Gaspari stole two in the seventh end and then scored two more in the ninth end to take the lead. The loss dropped Italy to 1-8.

In other games Wednesday evening, Denmark's Angelina Jensen surrendered a steal in the tenth end to lose 4-3 to Russia. The loss dropped Denmark's record to 6-3, while Russia improved to 4-5.

Japan's Moe Meguro improved to 5-4 with a 7-2 win over Scotland's Gail Munro, who dropped to 1-8.

And finally, USA's Debbie McCormick gave up a steal in the extra end to lose 8-7 to Sweden's Stina Viktorsson. The loss dropped USA to 5-4, while Sweden improved to 5-4.

Put it altogether and China and Canada head into Thursday tied for first place and with playoff spots now clinched. The two teams are followed a game behind by Switzerland at 7-2. Then it's Denmark at 6-3 alone in fourth place, followed by Japan, USA and Sweden all tied at 5-4.

The top four teams at the conclusion of the round-robin Thursday evening will advance to Friday's page playoffs.

The worlds continues Thursday morning with Canada taking on Denmark, Italy playing Czech Republic, USA playing Switzerland and Japan playing Germany.