Taiwan won its first ever world baseball title at the national team level, going all the way at the 2024 Premier 12 Tournament in the Tokyo Dome.

The team clinched gold after defeating defending champions Japan 4-0 in an upset victory that shocked the sports world.

Going into the final match, Taiwan faced a daunting challenge.

Japan's national team hadn't lost a game in five years, and was on a 27-game win streak.

But Taiwan rose to the occasion, scoring four runs on a pair of home run hits.

In the fifth inning, catcher Lyle Lin hit a solo shot.

Shortly afterward, team captain Chen Jiexian hit a three-run blast.

I'm very proud of our team.

We made it to the final day, and we won the gold medal.

Taiwan's starting pitcher, Lin Yuming, and the rest of the pitching staff held Japan scoreless and limited their offense to just four hits.

I want to cry, but I can't.

I feel like I haven't gotten over it yet.

It's a dream come true for us.

It's an incredible feeling.

For a country where baseball is the national sport, the achievement has been a long time coming.

Across Taiwan, people packed into watch parties and erupted into sheer joy at the moment of victory.

Team Taiwan's victory has lifted the country's spirits, and it's become a major source of national pride.

I'm very touched.

I watched all the award ceremonies.

It's a rare occasion to be at an award ceremony.

So I watched all the award ceremonies.

I'm very touched.

Chen Jiexian is so cool.

A lot of people don't see it as a good thing, but I think it's because they've been training nonstop.

They've been training until late at night.

They've proven themselves on this stage.

Taiwan's previous best performance was winning silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics over three decades ago.

But this most recent win writes a new chapter in Taiwan baseball.

One where Taiwan has won it all and earned its place as world champions.

Patrick Chen and Leslie Liao for Taiwan Press.