Sally Fitzgibbons remained in the hunt for the women's world surfing championship after qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Roxy Pro in France overnight.

Fitzgibbons won her third round heat to progress directly to the last eight along with fellow Australian and defending world champion Stephanie Gilmore, Brazilian Silvana Lima and American Courtney Conlogue.

Championship leader Carissa Moore was beaten by Conlogue and will surf the sudden-death fourth round against Australian Tyler Wright.

Moore can clinch the world crown first time if she wins the event at Biarritz.

If Moore places 2nd or 3rd, Fitzgibbons must win to keep the world title alive. Should Moore place 5th, Fitzgibbons needs to place 2nd or win.

Lima turned in the day's best heat performance of 15.34 points out of a possible 20 with Gilmore netting 15 in her heat win in waves of one to 1.5 metres.