Highlights
Switching Places
April 12, Game 1, S1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5565
In S1-0, Nakabayashi is the dealer in 4th place, 2,900 behind 3rd place Futoshi and 11,500 behind 2nd place Hisato.
Nakabayashi starts out the hand 2-shanten for chiitoi (4-shanten fro a standard hand) with a single 2s dora and pairs of green dragon and west. In the first row, he makes the decision to aim for a standard hand and calls pon on the 6s. By the end of the row, Nakabayashi is 2-shanten and still holding onto the floating 2s. Across from him is Hisato sitting at iishanten with a lot of sequences. At the start of the second row, Hisato gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 369m wait.
With the riichi by Hisato, Nakabayashi is unable to discard the dora 2s and chooses to fold by discarding his west pair. When he gets rid of it, he returns to iishanten. By the end of the second row, his 2s is now paired up. Drawing the green dragon a turn later, Nakabayashi gets to tenpai on a 25m ryanmen. With a pon on the 2s, Nakabayashi ups his hand’s value to a mangan. Soon after, Hisato is forced to discard the 2m and deals into Nakabayashi. Nakabayashi wins the hand with Green Dragon/Dora 3 for 12,000 plus one riichi stick, moving him into 2nd place.
Menhon
April 12, Game 2, E2-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3567
In E2-1, Date is in 3rd place, 5,200 behind 2nd place Sonoda and 19,100 behind 1st place dealer Yu.
Date starts out iishanten with a closed triplet of easts. Though it is nice, Date chooses to break her lone manzu shape to pursue a honitsu just 2 steps away. On turn 3, Date is back to iishanten, looking for a north, 6p or 9p for tenpai. On turn 5, she draws the north and calls riichi on a north/69p wait. During the ippatsu round, Sonoda breaks his north pair trying to avoid the ippatsu and ends up dealing in. Date wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/East/Honitsu for 12,000+300.
Dealership
April 12, Game 2, S3-0
In S3-0, Katsumata is the dealer in 3rd place, 500 behind 2nd place Date and 13,000 behind 1st place Yu.
Katsumata starts with a very strong iishanten with a connected red 5s and pinfu almost guaranteed. Despite his three ryanmens in hand, Katsumata isn’t able to fill in any of them in the first row and instead makes a triplet of 2p, breaking the pinfu. At the start of the second row, Katsumata gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58p ryanmen. Three turns later, Katsumata draws the 8p and wins the hand. Katsumata wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Aka 1 for 4,000 all, moving into 1st.
Shortcut to Haneman
April 12, Game 2, S3-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3568
In S3-1, Date is in 3rd place, 12,500 behind 2nd place Yu and 15,500 behind 1st place dealer Katsumata.
Date starts out the hand 2-shanten with an isolated south and a pair of easts. Being such a distance from the top 2 and the Konami Mahjong Fight Club being at the bottom of the standings, a 3rd place this game would be lukewarm. As such, Date chooses to break up her east pair to potentially aim for tanyao or pinfu, upping her hand’s value from being a valueless iishanten. By the end of the first row, Date is 2-shanten for a standard hand and 3-shanten for chiitoi. Three straight turns at the start of the second row, Date picks up pairs and gets to chiitoi tenpai. She calls riichi and waits on an 8p tanki. On her very next draw, she gets the 8p and wins the hand. Date wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Tanyao/Chiitoi for 3,000+100/6,000+100, moving her into 1st place going into the last hand.
Close Game
April 12, Game 2, S4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2561
In S4-0, the top three players are in a heated race. Date sits on top and is the dealer with 3, while Katsumata and Yu are both tied for 2nd place with 30,300. With the scores so close, the next winner likely win the game.
From the start, dealer Date is 2-shanten for both chiitoi and a standard hand with a pair of 3s dora and a secured red 5p. In the west seat, Yu is 2-shanten with a floating dora 3s and Katsumata in the north seat is 3-shanten with a bunch of pinzu. In the first row, Katsumata makes a call to confirm his flush pursuit. By the end of the first row, Katsumata is 2-shanten while Date (who now has a 3s triplet) and Yu (with a sequence-based hand) are iishanten. In the second row, Katsumata makes a pair of red dragons and calls pon on it to be the first to tenpai, waiting on a 69p ryanmen.
Within the go-around, Yu gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 7s tanki. Though it seems like an odd choice, many of his improvements are either scarce or would put him into furiten. Add on the fact that Katsumata won’t be able to use souzu and Date will have to push to keep her 1st place, calling riichi here is a fine choice.
During the ippatsu round, Date makes a triplet of 1p to get to tenpai. With three dora, a red 5p she has a yakuless hand unless she draws it herself (also giving her sanankou in the process). To give herself a chance to call ron, Date calls riichi and waits on a west/5p shanpon, guaranteed at least a dealer baiman if she draws her winning tile.
Three players in tenpai, three players with a chance to win big. Near the start of the third row, Date draws and discards the 9p and deals into Katsumata. Katsumata wins the hand with Honitsu/Red Dragon for 3,900 plus two riichi sticks, winning the game.
Step On The Gase
April 15, Game 1, E1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2562
In E1-0, Matsugase is the starting dealer and hoping to continue the positive momentum that the team has had these semifinals.
Matsugase starts out with a big chiitoi 3-shanten (4-shanten for a standard hand) with pairs of east, west and green dragon. Early on, Matsugase calls pon on the green dragon and shifts towards a manzu honitsu, getting to iishanten by turn 5. At the same time, south seat Shibukawa gets to tenpai on an atozuke south/1s shanpon, hoping to catch someone by surprise.
At the start of the second row, Matsugase is able to call pon on the east and advances to iishanten. To Matsugase’s left, Mizuhara makes a pon on the 8s and is the second to tenpai, waiting on a 25m ryanmen.
Seeing Mizuhara making advancements, Shibukawa decides to throw a west and call a tsumogiri riichi. With the west, Matsugase is able to call pon and gets to tenpai on a 14m ryanmen. On Shibukawa’s draw, he draws and discards the 1m and deals into Matsugase. Matsugase wins the hand with Double East/Green Dragon/Honitsu for 12,000 plus one riichi stick.
Ippatsu
April 15, Game 1, S1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3056
In S1-0, Shibukawa is in 2nd place and 14,800 behind 1st place Matsugase, the one who sent him to the bottom at the start of the game.
Shibukawa start out the hand 2-shanten with two ryanmens and a loosely connected dora 4p. If Shibukawa can fill in the 3p kanchan or convert it to a ryanmen, he can guarantee pinfu. On turn 5, he draws that 3p and gets to iishanten. A turn later, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58m ryanmen. On his ippatsu draw, he is able to get the 8m and wins the hand. Flipping an uradora, Shibukawa wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 1/Ura 1 for 3,000/6,000, moving into 1st place.
Riichi! Riichi! Rii-Ron!
April 15, Game 2, E2-0
In E2-0, Yu is just barely in 3rd place after his riichi in the first hand was beaten by an open hand.
Yu starts out the hand 2-shanten with a ryanmen, but has no guaranteed value. In the first row, Yu makes another ryanmen and fills in the kanchan to get to iishanten. He has a path to pinfu, but the lack of a pair mean that it isn’t guaranteed. He isn’t able to make any steps forward in the second row, so he holds onto a safe green dragon in case he needs to avoid a riichi. At the start of the third row, Yu ends up pairing up the green dragon and calls riichi on a 58p ryanmen, having no other yaku.
Immediately after. Hori calls riichi and waits on a white dragon/red dragon shanpon.
Right after, Shiratori tries to call the third riichi, but discards the 8p in the process, dealing into Yu.
With the uradora flip, Yu’s green dragon pair becomes uradora and upgrades Yu’s hand to a mangan. Yu wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Ura 2 for 8,000 plus one riichi stick.
Little Genius, Big Baiman
April 15, Game 2, E3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3057
In E3-0, Hori is in 3rd place, 4,000 behind 2nd place Aki and 9,000 behind 1st place dealer Yu. Hori is hoping to do well this game and maybe get the team’s first 1st of the semifinals.
Hori starts the hand off with 4-shanten with a floating red 5m that can connect to a dora 4m. In the first row, Hori is able to make another ryanmen and advance to 2-shanten, but is still waiting on a 4m or a 5m to make immediate use of the red 5m. As Hori looks to advance, Yu gets to tenpai for ittsuu and waits dama on a 3p kanchan.
Right after, Hori draws a 6m to create a 47m. A turn later, he draws a red 5s to create a 147s 3-sided wait. After a bit of waiting, Hori gets to tenpai at the start of the third row and calls riichi on a 47m ryanmen, guaranteed at least a haneman on a 4m win. On his very next turn, Hori picks the 4m from the wall and wins the hand. Hori wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Pinfu/Tanyao/Dora 1/Aka 2 for 4,000/8,000, rising up to 1st place.
Last To Riichi, First To Win
April 15, Game 2, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p5566
In S2-0, Yu is in 2nd place and 25,000 behind 1st place Hori. Yu hopes to take revenge after Hori won a baiman during his dealership and hit Yu with the dealer penalty.
Yu starts out the hand 3-shanten for both chiitoi and a standard hand with a bunch of bad shapes and a floating dora white dragon. Across from him, 4th place Shiratori is 2-shanten with a bunch of ryanmens. Easily, Shiratori is able to get to tenpai on turn 5 and calls riichi on a 4p kanchan with sanshoku guaranteed.
Sitting at 3-shanten, Yu is still in a bad spot. With Aki discarding the dora white dragon to advance to iishanten, Yu is at least able to know that he can safely throw it if need be. On turn 8, he is faced with another challenge when Hori calls riichi on a wide 2345m wide.
During the ippatsu round, Yu gets iishanten. He throws the safe 4s during the ippatsu turn and the dora white dragon the next which is dangerous against Hori. At the end of the second row, Yu draws the red 5p and calls riichi on a 36p ryanmen, hoping for the former for iipeikou. Immediately after, Hori draws and discards the 3p and deals into Yu. Yu wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Pinfu/Iipeikou/Aka 1 for 8,000 plus two riichi sticks, coming within 6,000 of 1st place Hori.
Takamiya Time
April 16, Game 1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3569
In S1-1, Takamiya is the dealer in 4th place, 4,400 behind 3rd place Matsumoto and 15,100 behind 2nd place Asami.
Takamiya starts out the hand with a strong 3-shanten hand with a loosely connected red 5p and a pair of dora white dragons. After two fortuitous calls, Takamiya gets to iishanten by turn 3, holding onto a 4p kanchan and a 58s ryanmen. At the end of the row, she improves it to a double kanchan on the 4p and 6p. Soon after, Matsumoto gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25p ryanmen.
With the excellent value in her hand and being the dealer, Takamiya just keeps pushing. Near the end of the second row, Takamiya draws the 6p and calls riichi on a 58s ryanmen. Just two turns later, Matsumoto draws and discards the 5s and deals into Takamiya. Takamiya wins the hand with Riichi/Dora 2/Aka 1 for 12,000.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3570
In S1-2, Takamiya is now just 800 behind Asami and 15,200 behind 1st place Uchikawa.
Takamiya starts out with yet another strong hand, sitting 2-shanten with the red 5p now secured and a pair of dora green dragons. On turn 2, she created a 3p penchan and gets to iishanten. With pairs of green dragons stuck in Asami and Uchikawa’s hand, Takamiya can only wait and hope that they advance far enough to discard it. At the end of the first row, Takamiya sills in the 3p penchan and calls riichi on a green dragon/5m shanpon. If she wins on the green dragon, she will have at least a haneman.
To Takamiya’s right, Asami is 2-shanten, but able to advance relatively safely. However, the dora green dragon stands in the way. Through the second row, Asami forms a 123 sanshoku and gets to iishanten. Near the end of the row, she pairs up the 4s. She has a chance to call riichi and be ready for mangan minimum, but she will have to discard the green dragon. Asami takes the risk and deals into Takamiya. Takamiya wins the hand with Riichi/Green Dragon/Dora 3/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 18,000, moving into top spot.
Sonoda Swoop
April 16, Game 2
In E3-2, Sonoda is the dealer in 1st place after gaining decent points in the past three hands. Being in the postseason, getting points will be important for advancing to the finals and their starting score in the finals.
Sonoda starts off 2-shanten with two potential ryanmens and a loosely connected 9p dora. On turn 2, he fills in one of the ryanmens and advances to iishanten. On his next turn, he gets to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten with the potential to use the dora on an 8p draw. As Sonoda waits, 3rd place Hisato advances his hand quite well as well. On turn 5, Hisato is the first to tenpai and calls riichi on a 4p kanchan, guaranteed a 345 sanshoku and a mangan if he wins.
On the ippatsu turn, Sonoda goes back to 2-shanten to avoid dealing in extra points and have the possibility to go for tanyao. A turn later, he gets back to iishanten. Though the 9p in his hand is a problem, he finds the solution by pairing it up and upping his hand’s value. At the end of the row, Sonoda gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58p ryanmen. In the middle of the third row, Sonoda draws the 8p and wins the hand. Sonoda wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 2 for 4,000+200 all plus one riichi stick, moving him above 50,000.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2054
After the next hand goes to a draw, Sonoda continues his pursuit for points in E3-4.
Sonoda starts out with distant 4-shanten hand, but he does have two ryanmens to give him hope. Quickly, Sonoda makes a ryanmen and two sequences to get to iishanten on turn 4, guaranteed pinfu. Frustratingly, Sonoda isn’t able to advance any further in the first or second row. Although, he shifts his 678p sequence to a 345p sequence for a chance at a 345 sanshoku. At the start of the third row, Sonoda draws the red 5s to get to tenpai and waits dama on a 25m ryanmen, wanting the latter for sanshoku.
Immediately after, Hinata gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 3s kanchan.
Unfortunately for Hinata, she ends up drawing the 5m on her ippatsu turn and deals into Sonoda. Sonoda wins the hand with Pinfu/Sanshoku/Dora 1/Aka 1 for 12,000+1,200 plus one riichi stick, taking Sonoda above 70,000.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p2055
In E3-5, Sonoda starts out 3-shanten with a red 5p secured. With a floating 3s, he hopes to connect it with a 4s dora. Even as he advances to iishanten on turn 3, he forgoes efficiency to hold onto that hope. After a lot of waiting, his patience is rewarded in the middle of the second row as he draws the 4s, giving himself a chance at a 345 sanshoku in the process. Drawing the 5m on his next turn, he gets to tenpai and waits dama on a 25s ryanmen, wanting the 5s for sanshoku. Soon after, Hisato discards the 5s and deals into Sonoda. Sonoda wins the hand with Tanyao/Sanshoku/Dora 1/Aka 1 for 12,000+1,500, taking Sonoda up to 83,600.
Hori Heights
April 16, Game 2
In E4-0, Hori is in 2nd, a ways away from 1st place Sonoda. No time like now to catch up.
Hori starts out the hand by drawing the 7s dora to get him to 2-shanten. With a path to tanyao and pinfu, as well as a red 5s, Hori can conceivably get a mangan, haneman or even a baiman. On turns 2 and 3, he creates a 678s sequence and gets to tenpai on a 2p/3s shanpon, guaranteed a mangan. At the end of the first row, he improves the wait to a 14p ryanmen and guarantees pinfu. At the end of the second row, Hori draws the 4p and wins the hand. Hori wins with Tsumo/Pinfu/Tanyao/Dora 2/Aka 1 for 3,000/6,000.
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3060
In S1-0, Hori is now the dealer and starts off 2-shanten with a pair of 1p doras. On turn 3, he fills in a 3-sided wait to get to iishanten, only needing to fill a 47m ryanmen and a 3s penchan. On turn 4, Hori gets that 3s penchan and calls riichi on a 47m ryanmen. On his very next draw, Hori gets the 7m and wins the hand. Hori wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 2 for 6,000 all, taking Hori above 40,000.
Escaping the Negatives
April 16, Game 2, S2-2
In S2-2, Hisato is in 3rd place with -3,400. With his dealership starting and a riichi stick on the table, Hisato can move back into the positives and maybe go further. From the start, Hisato has a 2-shanten hand with a 123s iipeikou shape basically secured. At the end of the first row, he advances to iishanten and guarantees himself pinfu. A turn later, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 25m ryanmen. In the middle of the second row, he draws the dora 2m and wins the hand. With a flip of the uradora, Hisato makes the 3s in his hand dora and upgrades his hand to a haneman. Hisato wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Iipeikou/Dora 1/Ura 2 for 6,000+200 all plus one riichi stick, moving him solidly back in the positives.
M-League Watch 