The World University Baseball Championship will return for the first time in eight years tomorrow in Chiayi in Taiwan ©WUC Baseball

The World University Baseball Championship will return for the first time in eight years tomorrow in Chiayi in Taiwan.

Eight countries will be bidding for glory in all at the Chiayi City Baseball Field.

Tokyo hosted the last tournament staged in 2010, which was won by Cuba.

A planned edition for 2012 was then cancelled by the International University Sports Federation as organisers in Taoyuan, also in Taiwan, were unable to attract at least six teams to ensure the event could go ahead.

Twice champions Cuba are not taking part this year so there will be a different name on the trophy at the end of the sixth staging of the event.

Eight countries will be bidding for glory in all at the Chiayi City Baseball Field ©WUC Baseball
Eight countries will be bidding for glory in all at the Chiayi City Baseball Field ©WUC Baseball

Hosts Chinese Taipei are playing in Group A alongside South Korea, Czech Republic and Australia.

Three-time winners United States are in Group B with Japan, Russia and Hong Kong.

After a round-robin phase, the top two countries in each group will advance to the super round which will decide the two finalists.

The bottom two countries in the groups will enter the consolation round.

Action will continue until July 15.