The most recent champions are the Yomiuri Giants, who won the 2009 series.
It might be true that the most recent champions have a higher level because the level of tennis keeps advancing.
Colorado, which won the cup in 1996, is the only recent champion among the final four teams.
The most recent champion of the region is a team from Curaçao.
He has been perhaps the least respected of recent champions, considered the interim No. 1 until the next natural comes along to capture the public's fancy.
Several recent champions have been relatively unknown players who came through one of these qualifying routes.
The football club are the most recent champions of the league, although the last competitive match took place in 2004.
Extra spots for the most recent non-statused champions are added if the total of Touring 1/2 players entered does not reach 48.
Grissom then had the advantage of the past champion's provisional, which allowed the most recent champion of the series to start the race automatically.
If more than one champion wishes to use the provisional, priority is given to the most recent champion.