The 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 champion Taiwan was brutally trampled at home. They suffered a heavy defeat against Spain, ranked 24th in the WBSC world rankings. This is the 'Taipei disaster.'

Taiwan lost 3-12 to Spain in the 2025 World Baseball Classic (WBC) qualifying match held at the Taipei Dome on the 21st.

After winning the Premier12 tournament last year, Taiwan, ranked 2nd in the WBSC world rankings, faced disaster as they were helplessly overpowered by Spain, ranked 24th, on this day.

On this day, Taiwan started with Lin Chih-Wei (left fielder), Chen Chung-Wei (designated hitter), Chen Chih-Hsien (center fielder), Chang Yi-Cheng (shortstop), Wu Nien-Ting (first baseman), Kao Yu-Chieh (catcher), Lin Tzu-Yeh (second baseman), Wang Bo-Hsiang (right fielder), and Li Jung-Hsien (third baseman). The starting pitcher was Chen Yu-Heng, who recorded a record of 1 win, 4 losses, and 1 save with an earned run average of 4.50 in 16 games (6 starts) with the Tai-Kang Hawks last year.

Spain's momentum overwhelmed Taiwan. They aggressively attacked from the first inning. After one out, Angel Beltre got a hit to create an opportunity. At the hit by Wander Encarnacion to right field, the runner on first base was forced out at second, but with two outs and a runner on first, Jesus Ustariz's clutch double brought the first run. In the continued scenario of two outs and a runner on second, Luisber Estrada's timely hit made it 2-0.

Taiwan, mistakenly pressing the button from the start, failed to capitalize on the opportunity at the end of the first inning with 2 outs and runners on first and second with Wu Nien-Ting's ground ball to second base. In the second inning, after one out, Lin Tzu-Wei's double and Wang Bo-Hsiang's single created a one-out opportunity with runners on second and third, but they failed to score.

Spain eventually pulled ahead in the third inning. After one out, a hit by Wander Encarnacion and a double by Jesus Ustariz created a one-out opportunity with runners on second and third, where Luisber Estrada's two-run timely hit made it 4-0.

In the third inning, Taiwan answered back when Chen Chung-Wei reached base due to a third baseman's error and then, with one out and a runner on first, Chang Yi-Cheng hit a two-run home run to narrow the gap. However, Taiwan was subsequently overpowered by Spain. Especially in the fifth inning, they gave up six runs, completely shifting the game's outcome. In the fifth inning, with no outs and the bases loaded, Edinson Valerio's two-run single extended the lead to 6-2. After two outs, Carlos Colmenarez continued the bases-loaded chance with a hit by pitch, followed by a bases-loaded walk for Andres Angulo, a hit by pitch for Engel Beltre, and a two-run timely hit from Wander Encarnacion, increasing the gap to 10-2. In the sixth inning, Gabriel Lino's two-run home run extended it to 12-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Taiwan produced a timely hit from Wu Nien-Ting, and in the ninth, with two outs and runners on first and second, Wang Bo-Hsiang's timely double and a wild pitch brought the score to 5-12, but they could not escape disaster. Taiwan used nine pitchers but could not withstand Spain's explosive offense.

After winning the Premier12 last year, Taiwan prepared ambitiously for the WBC qualifiers. They invited the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League's Lotte Giants, which held a training camp in Tainan, for two evaluation matches and gathered players playing in Nippon Professional Baseball, but suffered a heavy defeat in their first match.

The prominent Taiwanese media outlet 'Liberty Times' noted after the timely hit by Wu Nien-Ting in the seventh inning that "Wu Nien-Ting saved the team's life. We were able to avoid our first tragic record." Furthermore, the starter Chen Yu-Hung pitched one inning, allowed three hits, two earned runs, threw 21 pitches, and was substituted. 'Liberty Times' reported that he became the starter who pitched the shortest inning in the history of the Taiwanese national team in the qualifiers. Michael Clair from 'MLB.com' explained that "Taipei Dome was engulfed in total silence. The noises from the Spanish dugout were louder than the fans.'

Taiwan was expected to reach the finals smoothly as they were grouped with Spain, Nicaragua, and South Africa, but they were shocked by the defeat in their first match. The 35,325 spectators gathered at the Taipei Dome had to witness a defeat that left them speechless.