Taiwan Wins the 2024 Premier12: How Taiwan Beat Japan 4-0 at the Tokyo Dome
Taiwan ended Japan's 27-game international winning streak to win the WBSC Premier12. From the opener in the Taipei Dome to the final in Tokyo, the run that set the island alight.
Tokyo Dome, November 24, 2024. As the final out settled into a glove, Taiwan's players rushed the field and piled on top of each other, and cheers went up in living rooms across the island. Taiwan had beaten hosts Japan 4-0 to win the WBSC Premier12, ending Japan's 27-game winning streak in international play.
It started in Taipei
The run began at home. Taiwan played its opening round in the Taipei Dome, barely a year old, and beat South Korea in its first game in front of a packed home crowd, setting the tone. Taiwan then advanced to the Super Round in Tokyo. It lost to Japan there but still earned a place in the final.
The final: two home runs in the fifth
The final was a rematch with Japan. Japan had a deep roster and home-field advantage, and most expected the hosts to win. Taiwan's starter Lin Yu-min threw four scoreless innings to keep the game level early.
The turning point came in the fifth inning. Catcher Lin Chia-cheng hit a solo home run to put Taiwan ahead, and captain Chen Chieh-hsien followed with a three-run homer that made it 4-0. Taiwan's bullpen then held Japan's lineup in check and protected the lead to the end.
A captain playing hurt
Chen played through a finger injury during the tournament and was named the event's most valuable player. His three-run homer in the final has become one of the most replayed moments in Taiwanese baseball history, and it gave the word captain a new meaning for many fans.
What one title changed
It was a landmark title for Taiwan at the highest level of senior international baseball. The players came home to a heroes' welcome, CPBL attendance and attention rose, and many people who had never followed baseball became fans because of that final.
Just as important, the title showed that Taiwan's young players can go toe to toe with the sport's powers on the biggest stage. From youth baseball to the professional league, the whole system has drawn more attention and resources since that night.
The players who made it possible
The roster mixed CPBL regulars with players developing abroad, and many of them had played together on national youth teams for years. That familiarity showed in the field and in the dugout, where the team played with a confidence few had expected.
A young, close-knit team
The title-winning team was led by manager Tseng Hao-chu and built mostly around CPBL regulars, with a handful of young players developing overseas. Many of them had worn the national jersey together since their youth and junior teams, and that familiarity showed on the field.
Throughout the tournament Taiwan's defence was steady and its pitchers rarely let an inning get away from them. In a short tournament, avoiding mistakes often matters more than the occasional big inning, and Taiwan did that better than anyone.
The coaching staff also deserves credit for how it used the bullpen. Rather than leaning on one or two arms, it spread the work across the staff, so pitchers were fresh when it mattered most. By the final, Taiwan could hand the late innings to relievers who had been sharp all tournament, and Japan's lineup never found a way back into the game. It was a reminder that a short tournament rewards depth and planning as much as star power.
For Baseball Dream players
Taiwan did not win on the back of one superstar. It won with a starter who kept the game close, power at the key moment and a bullpen that finished the job. That is part of baseball's charm: a balanced team that executes well can beat opponents that look stronger on paper. Keep that final in mind when you build your own team in Baseball Dream.