Chelsea Georgeson defeated five-time world champion Layne Beachley to win the Roxy Pro France on Thursday but Beachley closed to within 36 points of the ratings lead.

The $US60,000 ($A87,000) World Championship Tournament event resumed on Thursday with quarter-final heats in good 1.3m to 2m waves, though conditions remained difficult due to tide changes and strong currents at the main site of La Graviere.

Georgeson - the 2002 ASP Rookie of the Year - downed her fellow Australian 13.17 points to 7.84 and finished the day third in the world ratings with 3,060 points just behind Beachley (3,084) and Hawaiian leader Keala Kennelly (3,120).

Only one event remains at Honolua Bay, Hawaii, in December and the world title is within reach of the 19-year-old.

"I didn't even know I was in the running, but that's something to look forward to," Georgeson said.

"Hawaii's going to be all on."

Beachley - the defending Roxy Pro France champion - played catch-up throughout the 30-minute decider but achieved her main goal of narrowing the ratings margin.

"It was really difficult to read the conditions, but Chelsea did perfectly and picked the right waves and out surfed me," said Beachley.

"I'm obviously disappointed, but happy I've kept the world title race open. We're going into Hawaii with a really exciting race. There are five girls in contention and hopefully we get really good waves."

Equal third on Thursday were Australian Lynette MacKenzie and Heather Clark of South Africa.

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