Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chin-Tse Delivers Masterpiece as Taiwan Ends 29-Year Title Drought at LLWS

When Lin Chin-Tse walked off the mound in the fifth inning, he didn’t look like a 12-year-old kid. He looked like a seasoned ace, stone-faced and unfazed, after silencing Nevada’s bats and putting Chinese Taipei on the brink of history.

Moments later, he would deliver the knockout blow at the plate—a bases-clearing triple that sent the Taiwanese crowd at Lamade Stadium into a frenzy and secured Chinese Taipei’s long-awaited return to the top of youth baseball.

With a 7–0 victory over Nevada, Tung-Yuan Little League of Taipei City claimed the 2025 Little League World Series championship, snapping a 29-year title drought and becoming the first international champion since Japan in 2017.

A Journey of Dominance

Chinese Taipei didn’t just win the championship—they controlled the entire tournament.

• Game 1: 3–0 win over Mexico

• Game 2: 4–0 win over Aruba

• Game 3: 7–3 win over Venezuela

• International Final: 1–0 win over Aruba

By the time they reached Sunday’s title game, they had outscored opponents 22–3. Their defense was airtight, their pitching unhittable, and their bats timely.

Nevada, meanwhile, came to Williamsport as America’s powerhouse. Summerlin South Little League opened with a 16–1 rout of Illinois, edged Washington 5–3, then battled through the loser’s bracket after falling to Connecticut. They earned redemption in the U.S. Championship with an 8–2 win over the Fairfield club, setting up a clash between two of the tournament’s most resilient teams.

Lin Chin-Tse’s Moment

If the bracket told the story of dominance, the championship told the story of one boy.

Lin was brilliant on the mound, retiring the first 13 batters he faced. His command and poise had Nevada’s lineup guessing all afternoon. He finished with four strikeouts, one hit allowed, and no runs in five innings—a near-flawless outing under the brightest lights of youth baseball.

Then, as if his pitching wasn’t enough, Lin stepped to the plate in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. One swing later, the ball soared into the gap, clearing the bags and blowing the game wide open. His three-run triple was the exclamation point on a personal performance for the ages.

“I just wanted to help my team,” Lin said afterward, his voice quiet but steady. “We worked so hard for this.”

Nevada’s Run Falls Short

For Nevada, the loss was bitter, but their journey captivated fans across the U.S. Led by a deep lineup and resilient pitching staff, Summerlin South showed grit by clawing back from the loser’s bracket to earn a spot in the final. They became only the second Nevada team in history to reach the championship game, cementing their place in Little League lore.

Manager Scott Baker called his team’s run “a summer we’ll never forget.”

“These kids showed heart every single day,” Baker said. “Chinese Taipei was incredible today, but I couldn’t be prouder of our boys.”

A Historic Win

For Chinese Taipei, the win was more than a championship. It was a revival.

Since their last title in 1996, Taiwan had watched U.S. teams dominate the world stage. But in Williamsport on Sunday, their blend of fundamentals, discipline, and sheer talent reminded everyone why Taiwan remains one of the great forces in Little League history.

This victory marked Taiwan’s 18th LLWS title, further solidifying its legacy as the most decorated international program.

As the final out settled into a Taiwanese glove, players tossed their hats in the air, their cheers echoing through the hills of Williamsport. For the first time in nearly three decades, they were champions again.

And at the center of it all was a boy named Lin Chin-Tse, who pitched, hit, and carried his team into history.