Canada upended a stubborn Italian team 9-6 to keep pace with China and United States at the World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon.

Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones overcame deficits of 4-2 and 6-5 to defeat Italy's Diana Gaspari 9-6.

"They're a great team and (Gaspari) makes a lot of shots. We tried to make it a little complicated for them, but we missed a few shots," said Jones.

The Canadians weren't sharp but the Italians missed several chances to apply even more pressure to the hosts.

Gaspari had earlier won her first match in four attempts by drawing the four-foot for a 5-4 win over Russia.

The United States overpowered Scotland 9-7 and then built a 4-1 lead after five ends and eventually passed Germany 6-3.

China won a tough extra-end battle against Denmark. Bingyu Wang trailed 6-5 in the ninth end against the Danes, skipped by 2007 world silver medallist Angelina Jensen, and had scored only single points throughout the match.

The Chinese scored a big three-ender and were looking good in the final end, as Jensen sought to build a multiple score.

Danish fourth-thrower Madeleine Dupont faced a thin double-takeout on her last stone for three and the win, but rolled her shooter out of play for the 8-8 tie.

In the extra-end, Denmark conjured two stones in the four-foot rings, but Wang made a superb double-takeout. She then faced a hit-and-stay for the 9-8 win and made no mistake.

The Danes bounced back to shock the Czech Republic by taking three in the 10th end for a 7-6 win.

Switzerland's Mirjam Ott made a masterful draw under pressure from Japan to steal a point and preserve a 9-6 victory. Sweden had earlier earned a grinding 6-5 win over Japan.

The Americans lost their first match to Denmark but now sit at 4-1, one game behind unbeaten China and Canada.

In Monday night's draw 8 action, Canada meets Russia, Germany battles Scotland, Switzerland meets Sweden and China takes on the Czech Republic.

Eurosport