On March 8, 2026, the Taiwanese Baseball National team (otherwise known as Chinese Taipei) faced off against Korea in one of the closest battles at the Tokyo Dome for the World Baseball Classic (WBC). What unfolded was an intense physical and emotional rollercoaster that ultimately ended up going in the Taiwanese people’s favor, who were overjoyed and filled with pride as Taiwan claims their first ever WBC victory over Team Korea.
As one of the national sports in Taiwan, many Taiwanese fans travelled all the way just to support their players. “More than 40,000 fans – mostly from Taiwan – filled Tokyo Dome at noon on Sunday as Chinese Taipei’s cheerleaders danced atop the dugouts and its band blasted music and led chants,” wrote MLB writer Michael Clair.
The game went to “overtime”, as the score was tied 4-4 after 9 full innings, forcing a newly created extra inning rule with one runner on base to begin. With Team Captain Chen Chieh-Hsien running with all his might despite a fractured finger, Chinese Taipei was eventually able to score one run, leading the game 5-4 heading to the bottom of the 10th inning.
The stadium erupted as Chen Chieh-Hsien crossed home plate, his teammates rushing to celebrate with him as they went through a mix of joy and relief. Key contributions from players like Chiang Kun-Yu, whose bunt set up the winning run, and Chang Yu-Cheng, who had earlier delivered a clutch home run, highlighted the depth and determination of the team.
Slightly more than a year ago, in 2024, Chinese Taipei had claimed the WBSC Premier12 Championship in the same stadium, defeating host Japan to win their first major international title. That victory had planted confidence and determination in the team, which now showed on the WBC stage against Korea.
For Taiwan, this win was more than just extra points in the book. It was a moment of national pride, proof that their beloved sport could shine on the global stage. Fans back home celebrated late into the night, while international observers finally realized that Chinese Taipei was a team capable of creating history.
Chinese Taipei has ultimately been eliminated from the WBC after falling short in the three-way tiebreaker, but the victory over Korea remains a defining moment. It is a game that will be remembered in Taiwanese baseball history for years to come.
