Korea Breaks WBC First Game Jinx: Key Highlights from Their 11-4 Victory Over Czech Republic

South Korea national baseball team / Photo: Getty Images

South Korea’s national baseball team has finally broken their World Baseball Classic (WBC) opening game curse. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun led South Korea to an 11-4 victory over the Czech Republic in their Group C opener at the Tokyo Dome on March 5th at 7 p.m. local time. This win gives South Korea a strong start in the tournament, while the Czech Republic begins with a loss. The 2026 WBC main tournament features 20 countries competing in four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. South Korea is in Group C alongside Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic. They’ll play their first-round games at the Tokyo Dome, needing a top-two finish to secure a spot in the Miami quarterfinals. Reaching the quarterfinals is the team’s primary goal. South Korea has struggled in recent years, failing to advance past the first round in the last three tournaments. They finished third in 2006 and second in 2009 but couldn’t get out of the group stage in 2013, 2017, and 2023. Japan, also in Group C, is the most successful nation in WBC history with three titles (2006, 2009, and 2023). As the defending champions, Japan is favored to win the group. South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia are expected to battle fiercely for the second quarterfinal spot. Beating the Czech Republic, considered the group’s underdog, was crucial for South Korea’s quarterfinal aspirations. This opening win provides a solid foundation for their campaign. With momentum on their side, South Korea faces Japan on the 7th, Taiwan on the 8th, and Australia on the 9th. This victory is particularly significant as it ends South Korea’s streak of opening game losses. South Korea had lost their first game in the previous three tournaments: 5-0 to the Netherlands in 2013, 2-1 to Israel in 2017, and 8-7 to Australia in 2023. Each of these losses led to first-round eliminations. In contrast, South Korea’s successful tournaments began with wins: they beat Taiwan 2-0 in 2006 en route to a third-place finish and 9-0 in 2009 on their way to second place. Ryu Ji-hyun’s team finally broke the curse with a dominant performance on both sides of the ball. Starting pitcher So Hyeong-jun earned the win with three scoreless innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out two. WBC rules require pitchers to rest four days after throwing 50+ pitches, or one day after 30+ pitches or pitching on consecutive days. So’s 42-pitch outing means he’ll be available after just one day of rest. At the plate, Moon Bo-gyeong was the star, blasting a grand slam in the first inning and finishing 2-for-3 with a homer, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Whitcomb added back-to-back home runs, while Jones contributed a solo shot to the offensive outburst. With this strong start in the 2026 WBC, the South Korean team aims to maintain their momentum and reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years. [Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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