Highlights
First Hand
September 18, Game 1, E1-0
In E1-0, it’s the very first hand of the M-League 2023-24 season. Setokuma Naoki of Team Raiden sits in the east seat, Katsumata Kenji of the EX Furinkazan in the south, Matsumoto Yoshihiro of the Shibuya Abemas in the west and new player Sarukawa Masatoshi of the new Beast Japanext in the north.
Katsumata starts out the hand drawing the red 5m to get to 4-shanten while Matsumoto sits at 3-shanten. In the first row, Katsumata creates sequences and Matsumoto shifts for tanyao. By the end of the row, all four players are 2-shanten or better. In the second row, Katsumata started out waiting to get to a closed iishanten, but got tired midway through and called, discarding the north pair to aim for tanyao. A few turns later, he calls to get to tenpai and waits on a 36s ryanmen.
To his right is Matsumoto, waiting iishanten and hoping to draw the 7p for max value. In the middle of the third row, he draws the 7p and calls riichi on a 36m ryanmen, guaranteed at least a mangan if he wins.
However, Katsumata has other plans. Within the ippatsu round, Katsumata draws the 6s and wins the very first hand of the season. Katsumata wins with Tanyao/Dora 1/Aka 1 for 1,000/2,000 plus one riichi stick.
No More Ura San
September 18, Game 1, S1-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s60_p2001
In S1-1, Sarukawa Masatoshi is playing in his first M-League game and is sitting in 2nd place, 11,600 behind 1st place Setokuma. To move into 1st place, Sarukawa needs a a mangan tsumo or any haneman.
Sarukawa starts out the hand 2-shanten with an ankou of 7s and pairs of east and 7m. On turn 4, Sarukawa draws a third 7m to get to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten. A turn later, he draws an east to have a chance at sanankou. On turn 8, he completes his 25p ryanmen and gets to tenpai. He decides to stay dama, hoping to improve his wait. In the middle of the second row, he draws the 8s and calls riichi, waiting on a 689s wait. Though the wait is wide, Sarukawa wants the 8s to get sanankou. Soon after, Katsumata pushes the 8s while trying to use his red dragon dora pair and deals into Sarukawa. With a flip of the uradora, Sarukawa’s 7m ankou becomes dora, his first ura 3 in his first M-League win. Sawukawa wins the hand with Riichi/Sanankou/Ura 3 for 12,000+300 to move into 1st place.
Tabletop Hitman
September 18, Game 1, S4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p4001
In S4-0, Matsumoto Yoshihiro (representing the defending champions, the Shibuya Abemas) is in 3rd place, 16,000 behind 2nd place Setokuma and 16,700 behind 1st place dealer Sarukawa. To move into 2nd, he will need a haneman tsumo. To move into 1st place, he will need a baiman tsumo.
Matsumoto starts out the hand 3-shanten with two red fives and lots of sequences. With his hand leaning towards tanyao and pinfu, he definitely has the chance to make a comeback. On turn 2, he he draws the dora 6m to gain another han and confirm tanyao. On his next draw, he draws the 3s to fill in a kanchan and get to iishanten with a likely pinfu. In the middle of the first row, Matsumoto gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25p ryanmen. With tsumo and a single uradora, he would have enough for baiman.
However, Matsumoto is not alone at the table. To his right is newcomer Sarukawa, wanting to win this hand and win his first game. A bit earlier, he called chii on a 789s sequence and is just waiting on a 7m to secure the sanshoku and get to tenpai. In the middle of the second row, he draws the 7m and waits on a 5p kanchan.
Due to headbump, a 5p discard from either Setokuma or Katsumata would result in Matsumoto winning. However, no player at the table wants a ron to happen. Then, at the end of the second row, Matsumoto draws the 2p and wins the hand. With a flip, Matsumoto’s 3s becomes dora to complete the comeback and win the game. Matsumoto wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Tanyao/Dora 1/Aka 2/Ura 1 for 4,000/8,000, taking the first game of the season.
Close
September 18, Game 2, E1-0
In E1-0, Beast Japanext’s Suzuki Daisuke is making his M-League debut and starts out in the east seat. He starts out the hand with an ankou of 5m (including the red 5m) plus a pair of 6m to be 5-shanten. In the first row, he draws a red 5s, creates potential sequences and pairs up both the 4s and 5s. In the middle of the second row, he makes the 6m into an ankou and gets to iishanten. If he can draw either the 4s or 5s, he would also have sanankou. Soon after, he draws a 1p pair, getting him to iishanten for a potential suuankou. Soon after, he calls pon on the 1p dora to get to tenpai on a 4s/5s shanpon for haneman.
To Daisuke’s right is Shiratori, trying to continue Matsumoto’s momentum. With a pon in the middle of the third row, Shiratori gets to tenpai on a 25p ryanmen.
Counting tiles, Daisuke only has a single 5s to win. But all he needs is the one tile. The wall got smaller and smaller and time was running out. On a dangerous 6m draw, Shiratori folds. On the second-last tile in the wall, , Daisuke draws the 1p. With this final chance, Daisuke makes the dora kan.
With the dora kan, the new promotion came in effect. Fans quickly posted #槓全メシ完全メシ祭 trying to win some free food.
With the final draw, Daisuke unfortunately draws the 7m, missing the potential dealer hand. The hand goes to a draw with Daisuke being the only one tenpai.
Dora 3
September 18, Game 2, E2-0
In E2-0, Daisuke is still trying to win his first hand of his M-League career after coming so close in the first hand. He starts out 2-shanten from the start with three 7s dora and a red 5p. If he gets the 6p and the 7m, he would have sanshoku and tanyao to get to haneman. On turn 3, he draws the 6p to get to iishanten. Within the go-around he calls pon on the 5p to get to tenpai on a 7m kanchan for haneman. Just two turns later, he draws the 7m and wins. Daisuke wins with Tanyao/Sanshoku/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 3,000/6,000, putting him into 1st place.
Yakuman Tenpai??!
September 18, Game 2, E3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s60_p2004
In E3-0, Hagiwara Masato is hitting for his team as team captain. He sits as the dealer in 3rd place, 1,200 behind 2nd place Shiratori Sho and 19,000 behind 1st place Daisuke.
Hagiwara starts out 2-shanten for chiitoi with pairs of 3s, 7s, 7p and 9p. On turn 3, he draws a north pair to get to iishanten. At the end of the row, he draws a 7p to make an ankou. When Hagiwara draws a 9p on his next turn, he suddenly becomes iishanten for a potential suuankou. A turn after that, he draws a third 7m to get to tenpai and calls riichi on a 3s/north shanpon. If he draws the single 3s left or either of the norths, he will win a yakuman just like Date Arisa did on the first day of last season.
On Matsugase Takaya‘s draw, he draws the 3s and holds onto it, leaving only the two norths. On Daisuke’s draw, he finds the north. Being iishanten with good shapes and value, he discards the north and deals into Hagiwara. Hagiwara wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Toitoi/Sanankou for 18,000, putting him into 1st place.
Another One
September 18, Game 2, E3-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p6001
In E3-2, Daisuke is in 3rd place and trying to get back to 1st place. To his left is 4th place Matsugase trying to catch up and across from him is 1st place Hagiwara, the person who hit Daisuke directly.
At the start, Hagiwara is 4-shanten with a pair of white dragons, Matsugase is 2-shanten with two different dora and Daisuke is 2-shanten with a kanchan and a penchan. In the first row, everyone stays closed, letting the wall decide their fate. By the end of row, all three of them are 2-shanten. In the second row, Matsugase and Hagiwara shift to sequences to get to iishanten in the middle of the second row. At the end of the second row, Hagiwara calls pon on the white dragon to secure a yaku and be tenpai on a 58s ryanmen.
Immediately after, Matsugase gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36m ryanmen for mangan minimum.
Right after him, Daisuke gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a very wide 23568m wait. With such a wide wait, it was no surprise that Daisuke was able to draw the 6m on his ippatsu turn. Daisuke wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Tanyao/Ura 3 for 3,000+200/6,000+200 plus a riichi stick to put him within 1,200 of 1st place.
Hagi
September 18, Game 2, S4-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5001
In S4-2, Hagiwara in 2nd place and 5,600 behind 1st place dealer Matsugase. With a 2/40 direct hit, a 3/30 tsumo or a 3/40 general ron, Hagiwara will win. To his left is Matsugase, trying to extend his lead.
At the start, Matsugase is 4-shanten with a pair of souths and Hagiwara is 3-shanten with a red 5s, a pair of white dragons and a lone 7m dora. In the first row, Matsugase quickly draws pinzu to both increase his hand’s potential value and get him closer to tenpai. With a call of the south at the end of the row, he gets to iishanten. Hagiwara responds right after with a pon of the white dragon. Though he has the choice to be tenpai on an 8p/2s shanpon, he instead breaks his 8p pair to aim for 1st place.
Within the go-around, Matsugase draws a second east to get to tenpai on a 3p/east shanpon. A few turns later, he switches to a 258p wait.
When Daisuke discards the 2s, Hagiwara calls pon to get to tenpai on a 47s nobetan. With his honitsu, he has enough value to take 1st on a win. A few turns later, the aggressive Daisuke discards the 4s and deals into Hagiwara. Hagiwara wins the hand with White Dragon/Honitsu/Aka 1 for 8,000+600, taking the win.
Riichi Battle
September 19, Game 1, E1-0
In E1-0, Shibukawa Nanba of the Kadokawa Sakura Knights the starts as the dealer, Nakabayashi Kei of the U-Next Pirates is in the south seat, the Akasaka Drivens‘ Sonoda Ken in the west and Daigo Hiroshi of the Sega Sammy Phoenix is making his M-League debut in the north seat.
Looking around the table, Nakabayashi starts out the closest to tenpai at 2-shanten with two ryanmens, a red 5p and a chance at a 345 sanshoku. On turn 3, Nakabayashi gets to iishanten. As his opponents’ hands stall, Nakabayashi has time to create a ryanmen to guarantee pinfu. In the middle of the second row, Nakabayashi gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36p ryanmen. If he wins off the 3p, he will add sanshoku to his hand.
By this point, both Shibukawa and Daigo are 2-shanten, usually a time to fold. However, the wall started to give them good tiles while allowing them to advance safely. At the end of the second row, Shibukawa gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 3s penchan.
A few turns later, Daigo gets to chiitoi tenpai and stays dama on a 4m tanki. Soon after, he switches to a standard hand and calls riichi on a 3m kanchan.
Though hopes were high for Daigo to win his first M-League hand, it was not meant to be. On Daigo’s last draw, he draws Nakabayashi’s winning 6p and deals in. Nakabayashi wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 8,000 plus two riichi sticks.
Daigo Debut
September 19, Game 1, E3-1
In E3-1, Daigo is playing in his first game and looking for his first win. Sitting in last place, he wants to win a good hand to escape his fate at the bottom.
Daigo starts out the hand 3-shanten with two ryanmens and a connected red 5p. In the first row, he secures a pair, gets another ryanmen candidate and gets to 2-shanten. At the start of the second row, he secures pinfu and gets to iishanten. A turn later, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi. Even as 3rd place Shibukawa tries to rush the hand with a 25m ryanmen for mangan, Daigo’s wait is superior. Just after Shibukawa gets to tenpai, Daigo draws the 1s and wins the hand. Daigo wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 2,000+100/4,000+100, moving him into 3rd place.
Uradora Chance
September 19, Game 1, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5501
In S2-0, Nakabayashi is in 2nd place and the dealer, 8,600 behind Sonoda. With a dealer mangan, he will move back into 1st place.
Nakabayashi starts out 5-shanten with a floating south dora and a secured red 5m. In the first row, he makes pairs of 7p and 8p, fills in a kanchan and gets to 2-shanten. At around the same time, 3rd place Daigo makes a call and fills in a ryanmen to get to tenpai on a 2m/4p shanpon.
As Nakabayashi waits to advance, Daigo tries to win faster by making an added kan on his 2p pon. The rinshan misses, but his 4p becomes dora. In the middle of the second row, Nakabayashi makes a ryanmen to advance to a decent iishanten. A few turns later, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 7p/8p shanpon. With good value and a lack of safety, Daigo pushes against the dealer (though he does switch to a 3m kanchan). In the middle of the third row, Daigo draws a fourth 5s. Pushing his luck once again, he calls a closed kan, but misses again. Within the go-around, Nakabayashi draws the 7p and wins the hand. Finding one uradora, Nakabayashi wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 4,000 all.
With Daigo’s kan of the 5s and one of the uradoras being the 5s, the Kanzen Meshi contest activates and fans quickly posted #槓全メシ完全メシ祭 for a chance to get free food.
Ura Ura Surprise
September 19, Game 2, E1-0
In E1-0, Uotani Yuumi is playing in her team’s season open, something that she has done three times before for the team. She sits in the east seat and hopes to start it off with a bang.
She starts out the hand 3-shanten with a sequence and pairs of 4m, 9m and south. Across from her is rival Kobayashi Go at 3-shanten with three ryanmens, a red 5m and a west yakuhai pair. In the first row, Kobayashi calls pon on the west, creates a triplet and get to iishanten. At the same time, Uotani gets to tenpai but sits dama on a yakuless 4m/south shanpon. At the end of the first row, Kobayashi makes another call to get to tenpai on a 58s ryanmen.
Right after Kobayashi gets to tenpai, Uotani draws the 3m to improve her wait and calls riichi on a 25m ryanmen. A few turns later, Kobayashi draws and discards the 2m and deals into Uotani. With a flip of the uradora, Uotani’s south pair becomes dora and upgrades the hand to a mangan. Uotani wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Ura 2 for 12,000.
Bully the New Guy
September 19, Game 2, E2-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3001
In E2-2, Hori Shingo is the dealer and looking to win his fourth hand in a row.
Hori starts out strong with a 2-shanten hand with a secured red 5p and two completed sequences. Across from him is newcomer Watanabe Futoshi at 3-shanten with a dora 1m and a pair of white dragons. In the first row, Hori creates sequences to get to iishanten and has a chance at a 456 sanshoku, while Futoshi pairs up the 1m and advances to iishanten as well. On turn 8, Futoshi makes the white dragon pair into an ankou and sits dama on a 25p ryanmen.
A few turns later, Hori gets to renpai and calls riichi on a 47m ryanmen. If Hori wins on the 4m, he would add sanshoku to his hand. In the ippatsu round, Futoshi draws the 4m. Wanting to make a chasing riichi, he throws the 4m and deals into Hori. Hori wins the hand with Riichi/Sanshoku/Aka 2/Ura 1 for 18,000+600 to put Hori above 50,000.
Small but Mighty
September 19, Game 2, E4-6
In E4-7, Futoshi is playing in his first game and having a hard time after dealing into a dealer haneman a few hands back. Sitting in last place, he wants to win this hand to take advantage of the honba and two riichi sticks during his dealership to move out of last.
Futoshi starts out the hand with a beautiful iishanten hand, holding a ryanmen and waiting on four different tiles for tenpai. On turn 4, Futoshi fills in the ryanmen and calls riichi on a 3m/9p shanpon.
Despite the early riichi from the dealer, the opponents were feeling adventurous. On the ippatsu turn, Uotani calls pon on the white dragon dora to get to iishanten. With a second call soon after, Uotani makes a second call and waits on a 3m penchan.
At the end of the first row, Kobayashi makes the third tenpai on the table and calls riichi on a 14s ryanmen.
Three players tenpai. At 3,800 in bonuses available. Only one winner. Just two turns after calls riichi, Kobayashi ends up drawing the 9p and deals into Futoshi. Futoshi wins the hand with Riichi only, but gains 2,000+1,800 plus three riichi sticks (6,800 total) to move into 3rd place.
Always on the Ippatsu
September 21, Game 1, E4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3501
In E4-0, Konami Mahjong Fight Club‘s Date Arisa is in 1st place and is trying to widen the gap.
Date starts out the hand 3-shanten with two red fives. In the first row, she connects both of them but still sits at 3-shanten. To her left is Taro who gets to iishanten at the end of the row. On turn 8, Suzuki Taro gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25p ryanmen.
During Taro’s ippatsu round, Date draws a dora 2p, easily incorporates it into her hand and safely advances to 2-shanten. On turn 11, she advances to iishanten and on turn 12, she gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 69m ryanmen, guaranteed at least a mangan upon winning. During her ippatsu round, Taro throws the 9m and deals into Date. Date wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Pinfu/Dora 1/Aka 2 for 12,000 plus one riichi stick, putting her above 50,000.
Always on the Ippatsu
September 21, Game 1, S3-1
In S3-1, there is 1,300 in bonus sticks available to the next winner. Sitting in 4th place is Taro, 14,700 behind 3rd place Hinata Aiko.
Taro starts out the hand drawing a second ryanmen to be 3-shanten. Across from him is Hinata at 2-shanten with a connected red 5m. In the first row, Taro draws a dora 5p and fills in both ryanmens for iishanten while Hinata draws the dora 5p to advance to iishanten as well. At the start of the second row, Taro has a chance at a 4s kanchan tenpai, but rejects it for a better wait or more expensive hand. In the middle of the row, Taro draws the red 5p double dora and calls riichi.
On the ippatsu turn, Hinata draws a 678s iipeikou to get to tenpai. With a 235p shape, Hinata calls riichi and throws the dora 5p to aim for the ryanmen, dealing into Taro. Taro wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 12,000+300 plus one riichi stick, getting Taro into 3rd place.
Salt in the Wound
September 21, Game 1, S4-0
In S4-0, Date is in 1st place and trying to close out the game.
Date starts out the hand 2-shanten with a penchan and a ryanmen. In turn 2, she fills in the 7s penchan to get to iishanten. At the end of the second row, she draws a dora 5s to create a 47s ryanmen and improve her hand. Looking at her hand’s potential, she could draw the 5p to have a chance at a 567p sanshoku. On turn 7, Date pairs up the 9m and gets to tenpai on a 47s ryanmen, staying dama. A few turns later, Date finds the 5p and is now only waiting for the 7s for sanshoku. Two turns later, Hinata throws the 7s trying to take a 3-sided wait mangan tsumo comeback hand but deals into Date. Date wins the hand with Pinfu/Sanshoku/Dora 1 for 8,000, putting Hinata into the negatives and winning Konami’s first game of the season.
To the Top
September 21, Game 2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3502
In S3-0, Takizawa Kazunori is in 3rd place and starting his last dealership, 500 behind 2nd place Sonoda and 11,000 behind 1st place Matsumoto.
Takizawa starts out with a good starting hand, 3-shanten with a pair of white dragons, a connected red 5p and a lone 1s dora. On turn 2, he fills in a kanchan to advance to iishanten. He spends many turns just drawing and discarding, but he finally gets to tenpai on turn 8 and calls riichi on an 8s/white dragon shanpon, throwing the lone 1s.
Soon after, Matsumoto gets to tenpai and waits dama on a 14s ryanmen, hoping to snipe the winning tile from a folding player.
Not to be outdone, 4th place Okada Sayaka tries joins the fray by calling a chasing riichi on a 5s kanchan.
Unfortunately for Okada, her hopes are short-lived. Immediately after, Takizawa draws the takame white dragon to win the hand. Takizawa wins with Riichi/Tsumo/White Dragon/Aka 1 for 4,000 all plus one riichi stick, moving him into 1st place.
In S3-1, Takizawa starts out 4-shanten for both a standard hand and chiitoi with a pair of souths. In the first row, Takizawa started to draw pairs, pushing his hand to 1-shanten at the end of the first row. Even though he only started with two of them, he now had five. In the middle of the second row, Takizawa draws a red 5p to make his sixth and waits dama on a 2m tanki. A turn later, he draws a 1s. Having previously thrown the 4s, he sets the trap and calls riichi, waiting on the 1s suji. Just a few turns later, Matsumoto throws the 1s and deals into Takizawa. Takizawa wins the hand with Riichi/Chiitoi/Aka 1 for 9,600+300.
Dora Haitei
September 21, Game 2, S3-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p4002
In S3-2, only 600 separates 2nd place Matsumoto and 3rd place Sonoda, both chasing 1st place dealer Takizawa.
At the start, Matsumoto is 3-shanten with a pair of souths and Sonoda is 2-shanten with two red fives and two 5p dora. By the end of the first row, both are iishanten, Matsumoto being open and Sonoda being closed. In the middle of the second row, Sonoda is the first to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58p/2s wait. Counting tiles, only a single 5p is left in the wall.
During the ippatsu round, Matsumoto gets to tenpai and waits on a 5p kanchan. Though Matsumoto would win the headbump battle, neither Takizawa nor Okada would throw the dora. Back and forth, each drawing and discarding, hoping for that last 5p. One draw left for each, wanting that one final chance. On Sonoda’s last draw, he draws and discards the west. On Matsumoto’s last draw, the final tile in the wall, he finds that final 5p and wins the hand! Matsumoto wins with Haitei/Double South/Dora 1 for 2,000+200/4,000+200, putting him within a dealer mangan of Takizawa.
Sashikomi
September 21, Game 2, S4-0
Skipping to S4-0, Takizawa’s lead has shrunk down to 12,000 and 2nd place Matsumoto is the dealer. Takizawa wants to end Matsumoto’s dealership as quickly as possible to end the game in 1st.
Takizawa starts the hand 4-shanten with a pair of red dragon while his rival Matsumoto is 3-shanten. Despite starting behind, Takizawa has the power of calling and advances more quickly than Matsumoto. By the end of the first row, Takizawa is already tenpai on a 5p kanchan.
As viewers, we could see that all the 5p were being used up, meaning Takizawa’s wait was dead and that Matsumoto has time to catch up.On turn 8, Matsumoto gets to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten. A turn later, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 47p ryanmen.
Though these two are battling it out for 1st, there are more than two players at a mahjong table. At the end of the second row, Sonoda gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 47s ryanmen. With a direct hit off Matsumoto plus one han, Sonoda will move into 2nd place.
Though a chasing riichi is usually bad, it turned out to be a blessing for Takizawa. Takizawa calculated that Sonoda would need a baiman direct hit off him in order to bring him down a rank. Thus, if Takizawa could deal into Sonoda with a haneman or less, Takizawa would end the game in 1st place. With this in mind he got to work. Instead of discarding the very likely safe red dragon, Takizawa throws the 5s, a tile that is safe against Matsumoto but dangerous against Sonoda. The very next turn, Takizawa throws the 4s and successfully deals into Sonoda.
Sonoda wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Tanyao for 3,900 plus one riichi stick, giving Sonoda some points and letting Takizawa end the game in 1st.
With the 1st place, the Konami Mahjong Fight Club have back-to-back wins on the day, the first “Daily Double” of the season.
Katsu
September 22, Game 1, E1-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2501
In E1-1, Katsumata is sitting in 4th place and wanting to escape, trying to not get another 4th place like on Monday.
Katsumata starts out the hand 4-shanten with two ryanmens and a dora 5p. In the first row, Katsumata draws a dora 6p to connect to the red 5p, draws a pair of 8p and advances to iishanten. On turn 7, Katsumata gets to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten and on his very next draw, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25m ryanmen. A few turns later, Katsumata draws the red 5m and wins the hand. With a flip of the uradora, Katsumata’s 8p becomes the uradora and upgrades his hand to baiman. Katsumata wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 1/Aka 2/Ura 2 for 4,000+100/8,000+100, jumping up to 1st place.
Win Again
September 22, Game 1, E3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s60_p2026
In E3-0, Katsumata is the dealer and in the lead.
He starts out the hand 3-shanten with a connected red 5s and a bunch of souzu. By turn 3, it’s clear that Katsumata will have at least three bamboo blocks and a pair. At the end of the row, Katsumata gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a wide 12347s wait. It takes Katsumata just two turns to find the 4s and win the hand. Katsumata wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 1/Aka 1 for 2,000/4,000.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2502
Moving to E3-2, Katsumata starts out 3-shanten with a pair of white dragons and a red 5m. In the first few turns, Katsumata shifts his hand to have a chance at a 345 sanshoku and gets to iishanten on turn 4. After turns of drawing and discarding, Katsumata gets to tenpai at the end of the second row and stays dama on a white dragon/7p shanpon, guaranteed at least a mangan if he wins. In the middle of the third row, Katsumata draws the 7p and wins the hand. Katsumata wins with Tsumo/Sanshoku/Aka 2 for 4,000+200 all, moving above 60,000.
Raiden Timing
September 22, Game 1, S1-4
In S1-4, Honda Tomohiro is narrowly into 2nd place and trying to widen the lead over the bottom two.
Honda starts out 2-shanten with sequences in hand and a red 5m. In the first row, Honda forms more sequences and ryanmens, getting to iishanten on turn 6. At the start of the second row, Honda gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58s ryanmen wait. Having discarded the 5s the previous turn, Katsumata discards the 5s again and ends up dealing into Honda. Honda wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Pinfu/Aka 1 for 8,000+1,200.
3s
September 22, Game 1, S4-0
In S4-0, Mizuhara Akina is in 3rd place and 6,900 behind 2nd place Honda. With a mangan won in any way, Mizuhara will move into positive territory.
Mizuhara starts out the hand 3-shanten with a pair of south doras and a connected red 5s to meet the mangan requirement. In the first row, Mizuhara draws a third south and creates good shapes. By turn 5, Mizuhara gets to a perfect iishanten around turn 5. Around the same time, Katsumata makes a call to get to tenpai on a 7s kanchan.
In the second row, Mizuhara gets to tenpai and waits dama on a 36s ryanmen, having at least a mangan with either wait.
Near the end of the second row, Daisuke gets to chiitoi tenpai and calls riichi on a 6p tanki, hoping for a direct hit, a tsumo or an uradora for 3rd place.
Three different tenpais, two chances at a comeback. A few turns later, Mizuhara achieves the comeback by drawing the 3s and winning the hand. Mizuhara wins with Tsumo/South/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 3,000/6,000 plus one riichi stick for 2nd place.
Sugawara Start
September 22, Game 2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p6003
In E1-0, Sugawara Hiroe is starting her first M-League game of her career, hoping to get a better result that the 3rds and 4th that her teammates have gotten.
Sugawara starts out the hand 3-shanten with four ryanmens and a pair of 7m dora, a great start for her. In the first row, she fills in two of those ryanmens and gets to iishanten by the end of the row. In the middle of the second row, Sugawara gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 14p ryanmen for mangan minimum.
During the ippatsu round, Matsugase the dealer gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 45p wait, avaoiding a deal-in on a 4p discard for the 3-sided wait.
At the end of the third row, Kurosawa Saki throws her stick into the ring by calling riichi on a 36m ryanmen.
Soon after Kurosawa calls riichi, Sugawara draws her winning 1p and takes the win. Sugawara wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Ura 2 for 2,000/4,000 plus two riichi sticks, putting her into the lead.
In E2-0, Sugawara starts out 3-shanten with a pair of easts, a connected red 5p and an isolated 5m dora. In her first few draws, she pairs up the 5m dora and later draws a third one at the end of the row for iishanten. As she discards the east to get there, Yu calls pon and discards the 6s to get to tenpai on a 69m ryanmen.
With the 6s discard, Sugawara calls chii to get to tenpai on a 47p ryanmen, guaranteed a mangan upon winning. A turn later, Sugawara draws the 4p and wins the hand. Sugawara wins the hand with Tanyao/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 2,000/4,000, her second mangan in a row.
Raiden Timing
September 22, Game 2, S4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5002
In S4-0, 4th place Kurosawa is 7,100 behind 3rd place Matsugase, who is 7,900 behind 2nd place Suzuki Yu, who is 11,300 behind 1st place dealer Sugawara.
At the start, we see Sugawara already iishanten with two kanchans, Kurosawa at 3-shanten with a ryanmen and Yu at chiitoi 3-shanten. By the end of the first row, Sugawara is iishanten with a ryanmen and a kanchan, Kurosawa is iishanten for Riichi/Tanyao/Sanshoku and Yu gets to iishanten for Honitsu/Chiitoi/Dora 2. Two players are close to a comeback hand, one is close to increasing their lead. In the middle of the second row, Yu draws his sixth pair and waits dama on a white dragon tanki.
A few turns later, Sugawara gets to tenpai. Despite the danger on the table, Sugawara decided to be bold and calls riichi on a 4m kanchan.
Not to be forgotten, Kurosawa gets to tenpai at the start of the third row and stays dama on a 5s kanchan, guaranteed a mangan at a win. Having discarded the 5s the previous turn, Matsugase discards the 5s again and ends up dealing into Kurosawa. Kurosawa wins the hand with Tanyao/Sanshoku/Aka 1 for 8,000 plus one riichi stick, moving Kurosawa into 3rd place and ending the game.
With the end of the game, Sugawara Hiroe and the Beast Japanext wins its very first M-League game!
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