Highlights
Okada
October 9, Game 1
In E3-0, Okada is in 3rd place, 16,800 behind 2nd place Sonoda. Fortunately, her dealership is just starting, giving her a chance to close the gap.
Okada starts out the hand 3-shanten with a pair of easts. In the first few turns, she pairs up the south, calls pon on the east and makes a 789p chii, putting her iishanten for a honitsu mangan. After a lot of waiting, Okada finally gets to tenpai near the end of the second row on a 147p wait.
Soon after that, 1st place Mizuhara gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36p nobetan. Unfortunately for Mizuhara, she would draw and discard the 4p a few turns later and deal into Okada. Okada wins the hand with Double East/Honitsu for 12,000 plus one riichi stick, moving Okada into 2nd place.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3004
In E3-1, sitting 3,800 behind Sonoda, Okada’s starting hand again has a pair of easts, this time as part of a 4-shanten hand and holding a lone white dragon dora. Again calling pon on the east in the first few turns, she also pairs up the white dragon and draws a red 5p for 2-shanten. In the second row, she makes the white dragon an ankou, creates two sequences and waits on a 5p tanki at the start of the third row. A turn later, she draws the red 5s and waits on a 258s wait. Though she is furiten, she adds honitsu to her hand and guarantees at least a baiman upon winning.
With the red 5p discard, Sonoda takes advantage by calling it for a 456p sequences, putting him tenpai on a 47s ryanmen (though the 4s is the only one to give him a yaku.)
After him, Daisuke gets to tenpai on a 7m penchan, waiting dama with a 789 sanshoku. However, he would end up folding upon drawing a dangerous 3m with no sight of the white dragon. In the middle of the third row, Okada draws the 2s, the exact tile she discarded a row earlier, and wins the hand. Okada wins with Double East/White Dragon/Honitsu/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 8,000+100 all, easily moving into 1st place.
Furiten Takame
October 9, Game 1, E4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2005
In E4-0, Sonoda is the dealer in 2nd place and chasing after 1st place Okada who is ahead by 19,000.
Sonoda starts out 3-shanten with a connected red 5s as the only source of value. In the first row, he started to make sequences, advancing his hand well. At the end of the row, he has a chance to be tenpai on a 4p kanchan, but throws the 3p instead to fish for something with his 556s block and the lone 5p. In the middle of the second row, Sonoda draws the 4p. Though it’s not the best tile, Sonoda makes due with it and calls riichi on a furiten 36p ryanmen, hoping for the 6p to add ittsuu. Mizuhara makes a call on the riichi tile to eliminate ippatsu, but it shifted the wall in Sonoda’s favour as he draws the 6p on his next draw. Sonoda wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Ittsuu/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 6,000 all, putting him into 1st.
Gathering Sticks
October 9, Game 1, S1-4
In S1-4, Mizuhara is the dealer in 3rd place, sitting 19,200 behind 2nd place Okada. With two riichi sticks and four honba on the table, a mangan tsumo would be just enough to move into 2nd.
Mizuhara starts out the hand 4-shanten with an ankou of 2p, a pair of easts and a lone red 5p. In the first row, she makes the 9p an ankou, creates a pair of 9s and a 36sm ryanmen, leaving the 5p isolated. In the second row, Mizuhara finally discards the red 5p, allowing Daisuke to call chii and get to tenpai on a 369s wait.
Two turns later, Sonoda calls chii to get to tenpai on a 2s/5s shanpon.
On Mizuhara’s draw, she fills the ryanmen and calls riichi on a 9s/east shanpon.
With the riichi call, Sonoda folds his hand, but Okada manages to get herself to tenpai on a 36m ryanmen.
In the third row, the hand was finally resolved when Mizuhara drew the east to win the hand. Mizuhara wins with Riichi/Tsumo/East/Sanankou for 4,000+400 all plus two riichi sticks, moving into 2nd.
Aka Draw
October 9, Game 2, E4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3005
In E4-0, Hori is tied for 3rd place and sitting 8,300 behind 1st place Yu.
Hori starts out the hand 4-shanten with no value in sight. In his first six draws, he creates sequences and sequence candidates, eventually culminating into a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten with a chance at a 678 sanshoku or a 567s iipeikou. In the middle of the second row, Hori draws the red 5s to complete the iipeikou and calls riichi on a 58m ryanmen, guaranteed at least a mangan. Two turns later, he draws the red 5m and wins the hand. Hori wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Iipeikou/Aka 2 for 3,000/6,000, moving into 1st place.
Maki Movement
October 9, Game 2, S2-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2006
In S2-1, Asami is in 3rd place and 9,500 behind 1st place Hori. A mangan tsumo or better is all she needs to move to the top.
Asami starts out the hand 2-shanten with a pair of red dragons and two ryanmens. On turn 2, she pairs up the west dora and starts to shift to honitsu. On turn 3, he calls chii for a 789p sequence and moves to iishanten. With a pon on the red dragon at the start of the second row, Asami gets to tenpai on a west/3p shanpon.
To her left is Yu, who is the dealer and has already called pon on the south. After Asami gets to tenpai, Yu calls pon on the east and makes the green dragon an ankou, putting him tenpai on a 14p ryanmen.
In the middle of the second row, Sugawara tries to throw her hat in the ring by throwing the west and calling riichi, but deals into Asami. Asami wins the hand with Red Dragon/Honitsu/Dora 3 for 12,000, lifting her into 1st place.
South 4
October 9, Game 2, S4-3
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5504
In S4-3, the top three (Hori, Yu and Asami) are very close, only 3,200 separating 1st and 3rd. With 2,900 in bonuses available for the next winner, the first one between the three would win the game. Sitting in 4th is Sugawara the dealer, who can win anything, catch up and continue the game.
Looking around the table, Hori and Asami start out 3-shanten, Sugawara at 4-shanten and Yu at 5-shanten. In the first row, Sugawara calls pon on the white dragon and Yu call pon on the 2m to go for tanyao. By the end of the row, Asami and Hori are still ahead at 2-shanten. In the second row, Yu makes another call for iishanten and Hori opens his hand, getting to tenpai on a 3s kanchan.
Two turns later, Asami calls pon on the red 5m and gets to tenpai on a 2s/8m shanpon.
Immediately after, Sugawara calls chii to get to tenpai on a 3s kanchan, the same as Hori.
With a call himself, Yu is the last to get to tenpai and waits on a 3p tanki. Four players, four different winning tiles. At the end of the second row, Sugawara draws and discards the 3p and deals into Yu. Yu wins the hand with Tanyao only for 1,000+900 plus two riichi sticks, taking the game.
Tenhou Chance!!?
October 10, Game 1, E1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p4504
In E1-0, Tojo is the starting dealer and is hoping to get a 1st place like Uotani did last week.
In the commentating booth, Matsushima Momo and Murakami Jun were just starting out with their introductions when they realized something: Tojo was tenpai with her first 13 tiles. As loud as Hiyoshi, Matsuhima was yelling “Tenhou chance! Tenhou chance!” If Tojo draws the 3s, she would win a tenhou, a hand that has only once in the history of mahjong been seen in a broadcasted match. On her very first draw, she got …
… the 8m.
Not a tenhou, but she does have a chance to double riichi. Unfortunately, neither the 3s nor the 8m are any good, so she throws the 8m and waits. On her very next draw, she gets the 4s and calls riichi on a 14s nobetan. On the ippatsu draw, she gets the 1s and wins the hand. Tojo wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Dora 1/Ura 1 for 4,000 all, one of the quickest starts to a game.
Avoidance
October 10, Game 1, S1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p4005
In S1-0, Ooi is in 2nd place, 1,300 behind 1st place dealer Tojo. chasing after them is 3rd place Setokuma, 9,500 behind Ooi.
From the start, we see Ooi already at iishanten and Setokuma at 2-shanten. After some good draws, Setokuma is already tenpai on turn 3, calling riichi on a 69s ryanmen.
Though he is iishanten, the 2p draw on turn 4 makes advancing a bit difficult, especially with a 1p and a pair of 9p preventing tanyao and a quicker advancement. At the end of the first row, he discards the 9p to try his best pursuing tanyao.
In the middle of the second row, he draws a 6s. Holding a 34s already, the 6s doesn’t add much and sits dangerously in his hand. At the end of the second row, Ooi draws the red 5p. He now has the choice between the 3s and 6s. Since there are already three 2s out, he decides to reject the ryanmen and take the safer 5s kanchan.
A few turns later, Takizaawa discards the 5s and deals into Ooi. Ooi wins the hand with Tanyao/Dora 2/Aka 1 for 8,000 plus one riichi stick, skillfully moving into 1st.
Stick
October 10, Game 2, E2-2
In E2-2, Honda is sitting in 1st place after calling riichi twice and both hands going to a draw. This hand, he wants to take them back
Honda starts out the hand 4-shanten with a connected red 5p. In the first row, he shifts his hand to tanyao, getting to iishanten and confirming it at the end of the row. In the second row, he calls pon on the 5p to get to tenpai on a 58m ryanmen (and ensuring that he doesn’t lose another stick). Near the end of the second row, Kayamori calls riichi on a 69m ryanmen, but is immediately neutralized by Honda drawing his winning 8m. His hand value tripled from sticks, Honda wins the hand with Tanyao/Aka 1 for 500+200/1,000+200 plus four riichi sticks.
No More Ura San
October 10, Game 2, S2-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3510
In S2-1, Date is in 2nd place and 1,300 behind 1st place Honda. With 1,300 in bonus sticks, any hand will do.
Date starts out 4-shanten with two ryanmens and a connected red 5p. In the first row, she makes a 3-sided 147m wait, fills it and gets to iishanten. In the second row, she pairs up the 1p and the 9s and fills in the ryanmen near the end of the row, calling riichi on a 1p/9s shanpon. Two turns later, she draws the 1p and wins the hand. The uradora flip reveals the 9p as the indicator, making her just drawn 1p ankou into dora. Date wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Aka 1/Ura 3 for 3,000/6,000+100 plus one riichi stick, taking the lead going into the final quarter.
Menhon
October 12, Game 1, E2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2506
In E2-0, Rumi is starting her dealership and is sitting 8,000 behind the leader.
Rumi starts out the hand 4-shanten with a pair of dora 6s and a pair of souths. In the first row, she makes the souths an ankou, makes a 25s ryanmen and advances to 2-shanten. In the second row, she shifts to a souzu honitsu, getting rid of her 3m pair and gets to iishanten at the end of the second row. In the third row, she fills in the 25s ryanmen and waits dama on a 58s ryanmen (with the 8s also giving iipeikou). In the middle of the third row, Rumi draws the takame 8s and wins the hand. Rumi wins with Tsumo/Honitsu/Iipekou/Dora 2 for 6,000 all.
To the Limit
October 12, Game 1
In E3-0, Kobayashi is in 4th place after two deal-ins and is 14,600 behind 3rd place Taro. After being 4th place in his past two games, he really doesn’t want that streak to continue.
Kobayashi starts out the hand by drawing the red 5p to get to 2-shanten, also holding the red 5m, the 7m and an ankou of white dragons. Quickly, Kobayashi creates a 234p sequences and fills in an 8m kanchan, getting to tenpai and staying dama on a 36m ryanmen. Immediately after, Taro (who had already called twice to speed up his hand) draws and discards the 3m and deals into Kobayashi. Kobayashi wins the hand with White Dragon/Dora 1/Aka 2 for 8,000, moving into 3rd place.
In E4-0, Kobayashi is now the dealer and is 11,300 behind 2nd place Uchikawa.
Kobayashi fills in a 7p kanchan with his first draw, advancing to 3-shanten with a pair of 1m dora. In the first row, he creates a 345s sequence and a 58m ryanmen to get to iishanten. In the second row, he exchanges the 1m pair for a 123m sequence and draws a pair of 1p for tenpai. He calls riichi and waits on a 58m ryanmen.
Wanting to take revenge on Kobayashi, Taro challenges the dealer riichi and pushes his hand. In the third row, Taro gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 47p/5s wait.
Though Taro has hope, that hope doesn’t last. During the ippatsu round, Kobayashi draws the red 5m and wins the hand. Flipping one uradora, Kobayashi wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 1/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 6,000 all, moving into 2nd place.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5505
In E4-1, Kobayashi is now in 2nd place 2,300 behind 1st place Rumi. With one more good hand, Kobayashi can move into 1st place.
Kobayashi starts out with an amazing hand, holding a pair of easts, a pair of 4p dora and all three of the red fives. Within the first go-around, Kobayashi calls pon on the easts to get to 2-shanten. On turn 3, he draws a third 4p. Though his hand could be an expensive baiman, it will be hard to keep all the dora. At the start of the second row, he discards the red 5s. After calling pon on the 7s, he starts to break up his 3m/red 5m block. A turn later, he pairs up the red 5p and gets to tenpai on a 14s ryanmen. In the third row, Kobayashi draws a 4s and wins the hand. Kobayashi wins the hand with Double East/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 6,000+100 all, getting him to 53,000, a far cry from where he was three hands ago.
No More Ura San
October 12, Game 1, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3006
In S2-0, Uchikawa is in 3rd place, 4,700 ahead of 4th place Taro and a whole 35,600 behind 2nd place Rumi. A big win now will both widen the gap on 4th and give him a chance at 2nd place.
Uchikawa starts out the hand 3-shanten with a pair of 4m dora and a connected red 5s. In the first row, he secures the red 5m, makes an ankou of 4p, creates a 2344m block and gets to a wide iishanten. At the same time, Rumi makes two calls to get to tenpai first, waiting on a 2m/3p shanpon.
Right after, Uchikawa gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25m ryanmen. With the 2m being used up, Uchikawa only has the 5m left and Rumi’s 3p is suji against Uchikawa. Near the end of the second row, Uchikawa draws the 5m and wins the hand. With a flip of the uradora, Uchikawa’s 4p becomes dora and upgrades the hand to a baiman. Uchikawa wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Dora 2/Aka 1/Ura 3 for 4,000/8,000.
K
October 12, Game 2, E3-3
In E3-3, Nakabayashi is the dealer in 2nd place, 5,000 behind 1st place. With two riichi sticks and three honba available for bonus sticks, almost any hand will put him into 1st.
Nakabayashi starts out the hand 2-shanten with a secured red 5p. Across from him is Matsugase at 3-shanten with a secured red 5m and to Nakabayashi’s left is Hori at 3-shanten with a pair of green dragons. Right away, Hori calls pon on the green dragon and fills in his sequences, getting to tenpai before the end of the first row on a 7p penchan.
At this point, both Matsugase and Nakabayashi are iishanten. A few turns later, Matsugase gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 1m/9m shanpon.
Within the ippatsu round, Nakabayashi is the third to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58m ryanmen. On his next draw, Nakabayashi finds the 5m and wins the hand. Nakabayashi wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Dora 1/Aka 1 for 4,000+300 all plus three riichi stick, bringing Nakabayashi above 40,000.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5506
In E3-4, Nakabayshi’s starting hand is 3-shanten for chiitoi (4-shanten for a standard hand) with options to go either way. The first row doesn’t do much for Nakabayashi, leaving him at the same distance from tenpai, but now has a floating red 5p. The second row, on the other hand, gives Nakabayashi a lot to work with, giving him a red 5s for a 47s ryanmen, a 234m iipeikou and gets him to iishanten. At the start of the third row, Nakabayashi makes a 9p ankou, throws the red 5p and calls riichi on a 47s ryannmen.
Calling the red 5p, Futoshi gets to tenpai on a 5s kanchan for sanshoku. Soon after, Hori gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58s nobetan.
With the two riichi calls, Futoshi decides to drop his 1p pair, but ends up back to tenpai later. On Hori’s last draw, he draws and discards the 4s and deals into Nakabayashi. Nakabayashi wins the hand with Riichi/Iipeikou/Aka 1 for 7,700+1,200 plus one riichi stick, putting him above 50,000.
Ippatsu to Ippatsu
October 12, Game 2
In E4-0, Hori is in 2nd place and 5,800 ahead of 4th place and 35,000 behind 1st place Nakabayashi.
Hori starts out the hand 2-shanten with a ryanmen and two kanchans. To his right is Nakabayashi at 2-shanten with a red 5m and a 7p dora. Nakabayshi draws the perfect tiles and ends up tenpai on turn 4, calling riichi on a 36m ryanmen, guaranteed at least a mangan if he wins.
At this point, Hori is iishanten with two ryanmens in hand. Unfortunately, he is also holding a lone 7p dora. At the end of the first row, Hori draws an 8p to connect the dora and create a different ryanmen. In the middle of the second row, Hori draws the red 5s and calls riichi on a 69p ryanmen. On his very next draw, he gets the 6p and wins the hand. Hori wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 1/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 3,000/6,000 plus one riichi stick.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2507
In S1-0, Matsugase is in 4th place and now the dealer, 400 behind 3rd place Futoshi and 20,800 behind 2nd place Hori. In order to move into 2nd place, Matsugase needs a haneman tsumo or better.
Matsugase starts out the hand 3-shanten with two 7s in hand. In the first row, Matsugase makes an ankou of 9p, creates a 6778s block and gets to iishanten. At the start of the second row, Matsugase draws a red 5s and has a chance to tenpai, but chooses not to take the 6m kanchan and instead try to build around his 3456778s shape. On his next draw, he gets the 6s and calls riichi on a 258s wait. On the ippatsu draw, Matsugase gets the 5s and wins the hand. Matsugase wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Dora 2/Aka 1 for 6,000 all, moving into 2nd place.
Shortcut to Haneman
October 12, Game 2, S3-0
In S3-0, Futoshi is in 4th place and 8,300 behind 3rd place Hori. To move up, Futoshi needs a mangan tsumo or a haneman ron or better.
Futoshi starts out the hand 3-shanten for chiitoi (4-shanten for a standard hand) with pairs of 3m, 7s and 5p (including the red 5p). In the first row, he pairs up the 4s and 4m to get to iishanten. At the start of the second row, Futoshi pairs up the 4p to get to tenpai and calls riichi on a east tanki.
During the ippatsu round, Matsugase gets to tenpai on a 6m kanchan.
Two turns later, Hori gets to tenpai as well and calls riichi on a 2s/9p shanpon, guaranteed at least a mangan.
With the danger of two riichi calls, Matsugase folds his hand and leaves the two riichi players to battle it out. In the middle of the third row, Hori draws and discards the east and deals into Futoshi. Flipping two uradora, Futoshi wins the hand with Riichi/Chiitoi/Aka 1/Ura 2 for 12,000 plus one riichi stick, moving into 3rd place.
Monkey Magic
October 13, Game 1, E4-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p6009
In E4-1, Sarukawa is in 4th place, 11,400 behind 1st place dealer Hisato. With a tsumo mangan tsumo, he can move into 1st.
Sarukawa starts out the hand 4-shanten with a connected 3s dora, a pair of white dragons and a connected red 5p. In the first row, he makes a 234m sequence, pairs up the 8s and makes the 5p an ankou for iishanten. At the same time, Hisato makes five pairs in his hand and gets to chiitoi iishanten. On turn 7, Sarukawa makes his white dragon pair an ankou and stays dama on a 2s kanchan. A turn later, Hisato gets to tenpai and calls riichi on an east tanki.
Druing the ippatsu round, Sarukawa draws a fourth 5p and calls a concealed kan. The kandora flip makes the 3s a double dora, though it also makes the 2s (the kandora indicator) a bit less likely for Sarukawa to draw. Because of this, Sarukawa breaks up the kanchan to accept a floating tile. In the middle of the second row, Sarukawa gets back to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25s ryanmen.
At the end of the the second row, Sarukawa draws the 2s and wins the hand. With the uradora flip, both the 3m and his 5p ankou becomes dora (also activating the M-League curry contest), almost doubling his hand’s han value. Sarukawa wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/White Dragon/Dora 2/Aka 1/Ura 5 for a 6,000+100/12,000+100 sanbaiman, moving into 1st place.
70 Fu
October 13, Game 1, S1-0
In S1-0, Hisato is now in 2nd place after being hit with the dealer penalty from Sarukawa’s sanbaiman tsumo. Time to work his way back up.
Hisato starts out the hand 4-shanten with two ryanmens in hand. To his left is Daigo at 3-shanten with two ryanmens as well. In the first row, Hisato gets to iishanten with a guaranteed good wait and Daigo is 2-shanten for a guaranteed good wait. In the middle of the second row, Daigo gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58s ryanmen.
During the ippatsu round, Hisato gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 69m ryanmen. At the start of the third row, he draws a fourth 1s and calls a concealed kan. The kandora gives Daigo one more dora (now guaranteeing at least a mangan if he wins) and the rinshan misses. The game continues.
In the middle of the third row, Daigo draws and discards the 9m and deals into Hisato. With no uradora, Hisato wins with Riichi only, but the fu from the kan makes the hand worth 70 fu for 2,300 plus Daigo’s riichi stick.
No More Ura San
October 13, Game 1, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p4505
In S2-0, Daigo is in 4th place, 5,9000 behind 3rd place Kurosawa and 10,200 behind 2nd place Hisato. To move into gaining territory, Daigo needs at least a haneman.
Daigo starts out the hand 3-shanten with a connected 8p dora and a secured red 5s. Early the first row, he makes the 5s an ankou and creates a 58m ryanmen for iishanten. Shifting his hand to tanyao and drawing an 8m, Daigo gets to tenpai at the end of the row and calls riichi on a 7p kanchan.
Daigo’s riichi does not go unchallenged, however. After shifting to pinfu, Hisato gets to tenpai in the middle of the second row and calls riichi on a 47m ryanmen.
Counting tiles, there is only a single 7p left in the wall. However, this is mahjong. At the end of the second row, Daigo draws that last 7p and wins the hand. With a flip of the uradora, the 5s ankou becomes dora and upgrades the hand from a mangan to a baiman. Daigo wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Dora 1/Aka 1/Ura 3 for 4,000/8,000 plus one riichi stick, moving into 2nd place.
Hagi
October 13, Game 2, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5009
In S2-0, Hagiwara is in 4th place, 6,100 behind 3rd place Sarukawa and 16,400 behind 2nd place dealer Takamiya.
Hagiwara starts out the hand with an ankou of 4p and pairs of 9p and 5m (including the red 5m), 4-shanten for a standard hand and 3-shanten for chiitoi. In his first few draws, he pairs up the 2p dora and makes the 2p dora a pair, bringing him to 2-shanten. At the same time, Takamiya makes two yakuhai calls for iishanten. Near the end of the first row, Hagiwara pairs up the 2s to put him iishanten for toitoi and a potential suuankou. In the second row, Takamiya draws and discards the 5p, allowing Hagiwara to call pon and get to tenpai on a 2p/2s shanpon. A few turns later, Takamiya discards the 2p trying to accept tenpai and deals into Hagiwara. Hagiwara wins the hand with Toitoi/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 12,000. With the direct hit, Hagiwara moves into 2nd place.
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