TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first game of the CPBL’s Taiwan Series between the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions and the CTBC Brothers was held at the Taipei Dome on Saturday (Oct. 19).
The Brothers won against the Lions with a score of 10-4 in the opening match of Taiwan’s annual best-of-7 baseball series to determine the national champion. Taipei Dome was filled to capacity, with an estimated 40,000 people in attendance, reported CNA.
The turnout set records for both Taipei Dome, which opened in late 2023, and for the largest in-person audience at a CPBL game. Safety concerns arose from crowded staircases inside the venue and the packed underground passage leading to the dome, but no incidents were reported, per UDN.
In Saturday night's game, the Lions took an early lead with three runs in the first inning, but the Brothers staged a comeback with a remarkable seven-run rally in the sixth inning.
The second game of the series, with the Brothers once again playing as the home team, is scheduled for Sunday (Oct. 20). As of early Sunday afternoon, 33,000 presale tickets had been sold.
The Lions hold the record for the most Taiwan Series titles, with ten championships, while the Brothers have nine. League statistics indicate that the team winning two games first has an 88% chance of taking the series.
