The seventh seeds went in as huge underdogs against the Chinese top seeds Hao Shuai and Ma Lin but in a thrilling clash, the duo prevailed in six games to win 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8.

The victory also meant that Chen and Chuang became the first non-Chinese pair to claim the men's doubles world title in 22 years, with Sweden's Peter Karlsson and Thomas von Scheele being the last when they won the title in Chiba City back in 1991.

"It's the first time for Chinese Taipei and I can't find the words," Chuang said following the historic win.

"Standing on the podium listening to the anthem was so special."

Chen was equally thrilled.

"I was very nervous at the start of the match," he said.

"Later I settled down and I was able to play my style and it was an amazing win."

Taiwan's win at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy was the second time China's complete domination of the World Championships over the last decade was challenged after North Korea's Kim Hyok-Bong and Kim Jong won the mixed doubles event to secure their country's first ever title in the event.

It came as the high-profile event was being monitored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is due to debate later this year the request from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) to add mixed doubles to the programme for Rio 2016.

Before the victories from Taiwan and North Korea in Paris, the last non-Chinese winner of any title at the World Championships was Austria's Werner Schlager in 2003, when the event was also held in the French capital.

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