Aleksandra Goryachkina has taken a one-point lead over Ju Wenjun at the Women's World Chess Championship ©FIDE/Michael Friedman/Eteri Kublashvili

Russia's Aleksandra Goryachkina has taken a one-point lead over China's Ju Wenjun at the Women's World Chess Championship, after winning the eighth game in Vladivostok.

The challenger's victory today makes the score 4½-3½.

It leaves defending champion Ju with only four games to overturn the deficit and retain her title.

She had home advantage for the first six games in Shanghai, but the event has moved to Goryachkina's turf from yesterday's seventh game onwards.

The pair could not be separated yesterday, following three days off.

Game nine is due to be played on Sunday (January 19).

The 12th and last game is scheduled for January 23.

Whoever wins the 2020 title will earn €500,000 (£426,000/$554,000) - the biggest prize ever awarded in a women's chess event.